[Atlanta] ruling: school boards can’t use taxpayer money to oppose charter amendment

Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | October 3, 2012 | Wayne Washington

[Cincinatus' Wife]

School boards are not permitted to use taxpayer money to oppose the charter schools amendment, Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens wrote in a letter to Superintendent John Barge Wednesday.

His letter – which followed complaints about boards’ actions on that issue — doesn’t appear likely to end the argument.

Rather than provide clarity, the letter itself became a sort of political Rorschach test, with amendment supporters and opponents interpreting it in starkly different ways. And superintendents and board members said they plan to press the case against an amendment they believe will lead to more charter schools and less money for traditional public schools.

Several school boards, including those in Cherokee, Douglas, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, have passed resolutions expressing their opposition to the proposed amendment that will be on the ballot in November. Some districts have also posted information on their Web sites that amendment backers say presents a negative view of the amendment.

Supporters of the amendment have complained that board members violated Georgia law by using taxpayer resources to participate in a political campaign.

Barge, an opponent of the amendment, sought clarity from Olens, who wrote that “local school boards do not have the legal authority to expend funds or other resources to advocate or oppose the ratification of a constitutional amendment by voters.”

Atlanta attorney Glenn Delk, who complained to the state Board of Education that Barge and school boards were violating state law, said Olens’ letter is a vindication. He said the only correct interpretation of Olens’ letter would mean that school boards must rescind the anti-amendment resolutions they approved, and districts must remove anti-amendment information and replace it with a statement of neutrality.

[Tax-chick]

School boards are not permitted to use taxpayer money to oppose the charter schools amendment

Remember, when your school system says they don't have enough money to pay teachers or buy books, that they have enough to oppose legislation that would give parents more options.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

And they fight us, using our money (and by indoctrinating your children and grandchildren).

[Tax-chick]

Not my children - 18 years of homeschooling, with at least another 18 to go.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Great!!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Rather than provide clarity, the letter itself became a sort of political Rorschach test, with amendment supporters and opponents interpreting it in starkly different ways.

Eric Holder's people are entitled to their own set of facts.