ATLANTA – State Representative Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) and State Representative Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), as chair and vice-chair of the DeKalb House Legislative Delegation, congratulates Chief Judge Mike Jacobs, the State Court of DeKalb County and the entire judicial team on achieving the highest clearance rate among all State Courts in Georgia — a 165.44 percent for calendar years 2022 through 2024, as reported by the Judicial Council of Georgia.
Continue reading “DeKalb House Delegation Congratulates State Court on #1 Ranking in Georgia Clearance Rates”GUEST EDITORIAL: Shining a Light on the Inequity of Georgia’s Public School Funding System
By State Representatives Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) and Sandra G. Scott (D-Rex)
(598 words)
It is urgent that we bring transparency to Georgia’s public school funding system by releasing new data obtained through an Open Records Request (ORR) that we submitted to the Georgia Department of Education. The request reveals the list of school districts that did not receive the Equalization Grant or Sparsity Grant for fiscal years 2023 and 2024, underscoring a growing concern about fairness, equity and how taxpayer dollars are distributed statewide.
Continue reading “GUEST EDITORIAL: Shining a Light on the Inequity of Georgia’s Public School Funding System”GUEST EDITORIAL: From the Microphone to the Capitol: Public Comment is not a Privilege – it’s a Right
By State Representative Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain)
(584 words)
Long before I was sworn in as a Georgia State Representative, I was an activist, organizer, community missionary, government watchdog and an overall concerned citizen who stood at the microphone during public comment sessions, sometimes speaking to a practically empty room, to hold our school boards and local governments accountable.
Continue reading “GUEST EDITORIAL: From the Microphone to the Capitol: Public Comment is not a Privilege – it’s a Right”GUEST EDITORITAL: Feeding Billionaires While Starving Children: Georgia’s Kids Will Pay the Price
By State Representatives Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) and Sandra G. Scott (D-Rex)
(691 words)
Over the past several years, we have sounded the alarm about Georgia’s failure to fully fund its Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula and public schools, especially when it comes to essential areas like student transportation, school safety and support for children living in poverty. Now, with the passage of Congress’ federal budget legislation, we are witnessing the collapse of another lifeline—free and reduced-price school meals. The federal government is shifting more responsibility to the states for essential services like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Continue reading “GUEST EDITORITAL: Feeding Billionaires While Starving Children: Georgia’s Kids Will Pay the Price”Georgia’s Rural Hospitals Are on Life Support: Congress Could Pull the Plug
By State Representatives Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) and Sandra G. Scott (D-Rex)
(588 words)
As state legislators, we are issuing a warning following a devastating analysis of Congress’ proposed spending plan. The bill threatens to slash critical Medicaid funding, placing Georgia’s rural hospitals and the families they serve on the brink of collapse.
Continue reading “Georgia’s Rural Hospitals Are on Life Support: Congress Could Pull the Plug”