ATLANTA— State Representative Valencia Stovall (D-Lake City) recently penned an editorial relating to the state of education in Georgia. The op-ed, titled “Georgia’s failing schools need a fresh start,” outlines the need for Governor Nathan Deal’s Opportunity School District legislation, which passed during the 2015 legislative session. The editorial, originally introduced in publications in Rep. Stovall’s home district of Clayton County, was featured in the Savannah Morning News on May 10th.
“Education reform is not an issue unique to only Metro Atlanta, but one that reaches into every corner of our state,” said Rep. Stovall. “To have the Savannah Morning News feature my editorial only reinforces that notion.”
The OSD legislation, also known as Senate Bill 133, allows the state to create a new school district of no more than 20 qualifying schools per year, with a limit of 100 schools in the program at one time. The superintendent will be appointed by and serve under the governor, but must be approved by the Senate. Qualifying schools are considered those which are “chronically failing,” meaning they have received an F for 3 or more consecutive years. SB 133 is the companion legislation to Senate Resolution 287, which will be presented as a ballot question in order to make an amendment to the Georgia Constitution in order to create the new school district. If the constitutional amendment passes, the new program begins with the 2017 – 2018 school year.
“Our children are our future,” said Rep. Stovall, “and by making a sound investment in them, we are making an investment in the future of our state for many generations to come.”
Representative Valencia Stovall represents the citizens of District 74, which includes portions of Clayton County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2012, and currently serves on the Code Revision, Interstate Cooperation, Education and Small Business Development committees.
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