Georgia Votes: 2012 Election Results

Charter school amendment appears headed for win.

UPATE 5:50 pm If you are in line to vote at 7 pm, you will get to vote even though the polls close then. Tens of thousands of Fulton County voters have already cast ballots today. Turnout is especially high for today’s General Election, as it is in most Presidential election years. It's too early to know how this year compares to 2008. In the evening after traditional work hours, peak turnout is anticipated, and tens of thousands of additional voters could exercise their right to vote. Fulton County elections officials released a statement advising that voters who are in line at 7 pm will be allowed to vote under Georgia law. As provided by Georgia law, voters who are over age 75 or who have a disability are eligible to ask to move ahead …

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don Gabacho

3:48 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012

"don Gabacho, thank you for your observation. I agree that dealing with abusers of law is important. But dealing with abusers is often not very effective when the abusers are the ones in power and control."----E Pluribus Unum That's the eternal price of liberty. All it should tell anyone is to be that much more diligent in recognizing and protecting that which indeed constitutes us and not what …   more ›

Voters Sue Over 'Misleading' Charter School Ballot Language

The lawsuit alleges that the preamble and the question on the Nov. 6 ballot is biased in favor of approval of the measure.

An East Atlanta church minister and a public school teacher have filed a lawsuit in Fulton Superior Court against members of the state of Georgia government over the language of the Nov. 6 ballot as it pertains to charter schools. The lawsuit, filed by the Rev. Timothy McDonald, senior pastor at First Iconium Baptist Church in East Atlanta, and Dalton teacher Beverly Hedges, names Gov. Nathan Deal, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Secretary of State Brian Kemp as co-defendants. The complaint alleges that Gov. Deal used language in the preamble to the ballot question and the ballot question itself that is misleading and that was not passed by the General Assembly. This is how the ballot language currently appears: "Provides for improving student …

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jeff

2:25 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012

@ kirkwood res. give an example of what you mean. Are you saying you want schools to be ideologically ran rather then teaching all required subjects. Like not teaching evolution because many "red" folks don't believe in it? This bill is not good for schools. It is strictly written for monetary purposes. Face it, this model made FL 4.5 billion last year alone but did nothing to improve their sub …   more ›

Patch Voices

Why You Should Support the Charter School Amendment

'This amendment is about giving public school students a chance and parents a choice in for a quality public education.'

by Kelly Cadman There has been an awful lot of energy expended by opponents of the Charter Amendment. The opposition to the Amendment claim, that the state can “already” act as an appeals body for charter schools. Those supporting the Amendment wonder, if the state can already approve charters, why is the Education Establishment fighting THIS hard against affirming that on the ballot on Nov. 6? Most of the arguments posed against the Amendment are related to the enabling legislation, which establishes a Commission. The ballot question, however, ONLY reaffirms the state’s role in K-12 general education, so why the nasty battle against the Amendment? At the heart of the argument employed by the school districts and affiliate associations who…

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Letters to the Editor

The Case for Charter School Choice

Why voters statewide should vote for House Resolution 1162 — a constitutional amendment to allow a state-commissioned board the ability to approve charter schools when local boards refuse.

Dear Editor: I am writing as both a parent of students who attend a charter school and a teacher who works at one. The school I speak of is Pataula Charter Academy (PCA) located in Edison, Georgia. This is one of the controversial schools that was created by approval of a state commissioned board rather than the local school boards. Now we are in danger of having our doors closed unless an amendment to the constitution is approved in the November election stating that it is legal for a state commissioned board to approve charter schools when local boards refuse.  I am urging everyone reading this to please vote yes to this amendment. PCA serves students in five counties. All five of the local school boards of the counties that we serve …

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Marcia Killingsworth

7:59 am on Friday, October 19, 2012

Interesting, Frank. Thanks for that info. I'm still going to vote Yes because I've seen what a difference Pataula has made to its students, but this info is good to have.   more ›