Schools

Redistricting Plan Passes Senate

House Bill 978, which will change the way Cherokee elects its school board, passed the Senate by a vote of 47-0 on Tuesday.

Despite  and a , the Georgia Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that's become a flashpoint in the fight for local control of the Cherokee school board.

According to the website of the Georgia General Assembly, the final vote was 47-0 for House Bill 978.

If Gov. Nathan Deal signs HB 978, it will  and draw out chair Mike Chapman and vice chair Janet Read from their districts. The school board chair will be elected county-wide and school board members will be elected from the posts where they live. 

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In , the lead author of the bill said, "in moving to a district based system of elections we have also honored the American tradition of "one man, one vote.

"I am convinced the maps we have drawn meet every criterion we established, plus there is less than 2 percent deviation between all districts in each respective map," Rep. Mark Hamilton (R-Cumming) wrote. "They are fair, balanced, compact, and equally distribute representation across the county."

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Hamilton's letter came less than 24 hours after a strong rebuke from the head of the agency that accredits Cherokee and other school systems.

In that letter, which the Cherokee County School District made public on Monday afternoon, AdvancEd president and CEO Mark A. Elgart warned state officials .

"The election of the Board chair by registered voters in Cherokee County is highly irregular."

Hours later, a  urging the delegation—Reps. Calvin Hill (R-Canton), Sean Jerguson (R-Holly Springs), Charlice Byrd (R-Woodstock) and Mark Hamilton (R-Cumming), and Sens. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) and Jack Murphy (R-Cumming)—to amend or rescind House Bill 978.

And on Tuesday, some  for the legislation.

"Given the concerns of Dr. Mark Elgart, president of SACS, the legislation (HB 978) should be changed," the members wrote. The letter was signed by Lisa-Marie Haygood, Janis Micali, Gary Parkes and Michael Sinco.

In addition to House Bill 978, state senators passed House Bill 979, which will require that  be elected solely from the district in which they live while the chairman’s post will continue to be elected at-large. That vote was also 47-0.

Stay tuned to Canton-Sixes PatchHolly Springs-Hickory Flat Patch and Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch for updates.


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