During their regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Sept. 10, the Bremen Board of Education tabled a resolution that would put their stance on the record regarding the upcoming Charter Schools Amendment, which will be on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The proposed amendment to the state’s constitution would bypass the current process in place to institute charter schools. Companies wishing to open a school first apply to the local school board. If they are denied, they can appeal to the state board of education. If voters approve the amendment, it will take the local and state boards of education out of the equation when determining if a charter school can operate within a school district. State funding would also be up for grabs for any newly created charter school.

The resolution being considered by the Bremen BOE states:

“The Bremen Board of Education believes that without quality public education for every child, regardless of heritage or circumstance, is the key to equality, freedom, and the realization of individual potential; and The state of Georgia’s economic condition has resulted in a significant decline in state funding for the public schools that serve the educational needs of over ninety percent of Georgia’s children; and [...] Advocates for a system of school vouchers, state-approved charter schools, and other educational options that divert public school funds away from local community schools support the operation of private or for-profit charter schools; and the erosion of financial support for public education serves to deepen the inequalities and diminish the opportunities for every Georgia child to be well-educated, achieve the American dream, and contribute to this nation’s greatness[...].”

The resolution goes on to say the BOE does not support the state’s proposed creation of a separate system to approve charter or private schools that are funded through “a formula that unilaterally takes critically needed funds from local public school districts.”

“It’s just a resolution to clarify where we stand on the issue,” said Bremen Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hicks. “Several school boards are considering it. Right now, we’ve tabled it for public input.”

Anyone wishing to give input or ask questions about the resolution or the amendment can contact Hicks at the school board, 770-537-5508, or e-mail him at david.hicks@bremencs.com.

In other business, the board approved fundraising requests for Bremen High School, Bremen Middle School and Jones Elementary. Greenway Medical was also approved to use BMS’s track, and Waslsworth Publishing was approved as the publishers for the BMS and Bremen Academy year books for 2013-2014.