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NEWS RELEASE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA EDUATORS

 A Statement from the
Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE)

“Enough is enough. It is time for significant sanctions to be imposed to bring this unfortunate chapter to a close. Let the sanctions fall directly on those who have brought the Clayton Schools to this sad day.”
 
- Excerpt from PAGE Statement March 2008

We are pleased that Governor Perdue finally chose to act in removing school board members from the Clayton County School Board. Unfortunately the action did not come in time to prevent the very issues we raised earlier this year. Problems which continue to be caused by members of the Board of Education are impeding the delivery of the quality education that all students of Clayton County and their parents deserve. Educators who are doing their level best each day to provide that education are also suffering needlessly because of the harmful actions of board members.

Clearly, an earlier intervention might have saved the district’s accreditation status and prevented this tragedy from unfolding the way it has. The State Board of Education has received the recommendations of a committee formed to study local boards and serious problems which have come to public attention around the state recently. We hope these recommendations are adopted by the state board and that they are enacted by the state legislature.

PAGE has always endorsed a vigorous Code of Ethics for professional educators – a code that is vigorously enforced by the Professional Standards Commission (PSC). We see no reason why such a code and enforcement procedure cannot be created for local boards of education and enforced by the PSC. We also support qualifications for candidates that provide some assurance to the public that qualified, ethical individuals will provide local leadership.

Unfortunately this action, which is badly needed across the state, will come too late for Clayton County. While the system’s accreditation has been lost, the sanctions have fallen upon the wrong people. The students are not to blame in this situation, nor are the teachers. Yet it is both groups who will suffer the most. The events of the past several years made it readily apparent that serious sanctions were necessary to halt the negative and destructive behaviors of certain board members. 

We encourage the state board and the state legislature to move forward toward implementation of a series of recommendations that may help prevent a future occurrence of such a tragedy elsewhere in the state.

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PAGE, the state's largest organization for professional educators, is a nonunion association of more than 72,000 teachers, administrators and support personnel members providing professional learning to enhance competence and confidence, build leadership and increase student achievement.