ATLANTA – The state Board of Education voted Thursday to essentially endorse Gov. Brian Kemp’s opposition to teaching “critical race theory” in Georgia schools, despite criticism it would muzzle open discussion of America’s history of racism.
A resolution board members passed 11-2 declares the board’s belief that the United States “is not a racist country, and that the state of Georgia is not a racist state.”
The five-page resolution goes on to oppose any use of public education resources to “indoctrinate” students in any political ideology or theory or accepting either federal or private funding that require teaching that anyone is inherently racist or inherently a victim of racism.
Kemp urged the board in a letter two weeks ago to oppose the teaching of “critical race theory” in Georgia schools. The letter followed a proposal by the Biden administration to prioritize critical race theory – which emphasizes the existence of systemic racism in the United States – in the awarding of federal grants.
Critical race theory is a divisive ideology that should not become a standard taught in Georgia classrooms, board Chairman Scott Sweeney said before Thursday’s vote.
“Is there racism within this country? Absolutely,” Sweeney said. “Is the entire country racist? I don’t agree with that.”
Board member Mike Royal said the resolution is intended to ensure the teaching of American history in Georgia isn’t one-sided.
“History needs to be taught not from one particular viewpoint but from both sides,” Royal said.
But board member Kenneth Mason, who is Black, said the resolution sends the wrong message by stifling discussion of racism in Georgia classrooms.
“It says, ‘If you have experienced racism in your life, you should be silent,’ ” said Mason, who voted against the resolution. “That’s extremely disappointing to me.”
Tracey Nance Pendley, Georgia’s Teacher of the Year, who serves on the board in an ex-officio capacity, said the wording of the resolution appears to censor teachers.
“We can’t ignore the extensive research into the systemic [racial] barriers that exist in our country,” she said. “I worry not being allowed to discuss current events could be damaging.”
But Sweeney said there’s nothing in the resolution limiting what teachers can teach.
“This resolution doesn’t put the brakes on anything that is already occurring in the classroom,” he said. “This is a belief statement more than anything else.”
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr recently joined Kemp in his opposition to the teaching of critical race theory. Carr joined 19 other Republican attorneys general last month in opposing the U.S. Department of Education plan.
ATLANTA – A top administrator at Fort Valley State University has been tapped to lead Clayton State University.
The University System of Georgia Board of Regents named T. Ramon Stuart Thursday sole finalist for the Clayton State post. Stuart has been serving as provost and vice president of academic affairs at Fort Valley State since 2016.
“Dr. Stuart is a veteran leader in higher education who has done an outstanding job over his career of keeping a focus on how to help more students stay on track and succeed in attaining their college degree,” university system Chancellor Steve Wrigley said.
“His experience makes him at excellent candidate to lead Clayton State as it continues to increase student success, grow its campus community and expand its academic reach across metro Atlanta and Georgia.”
Stuart has played a significant role in enrollment and retention efforts at Fort Valley State, one of the university system’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Through his contributions, Fort Valley State has raised its student retention rate to the mid-70th percentile and increased the school’s graduation rate by 15%.
“Dr. Stuart is a proven leader who can help Clayton State University and its students, faculty, staff and alumni succeed,” said Regent Cade Joiner, who chaired the committee that helped with the search.
Before coming to Fort Valley State, Stuart served on the faculty at West Virginia State University, like Fort Valley State, a land-grant HBCU. His accomplishments there included developing an engineering degree program and increasing the number of high-school students earning dual credit by taking courses at the university.
Subject to final approval by the Board of Regents, Stuart will succeed retiring Clayton State President Tim Hynes.
ATLANTA – Cumming is the best place to retire in the United States, according to a study released by a New York-based financial technology company.
The Forsyth County seat north of Atlanta scored 100 on SmartAsset’s index of best places to retire based on tax burden, access to medical care and opportunity for recreation and social activity.
Cumming narrowly beat out Naples, Fla., which scored 98.4 on the index.
Naples’ tax burden of 13.6% was lower than Cumming’s 16.5%, based on state and local income and sales tax rates. However, Cumming significantly bested Naples in the access to medical care category, with 36.5 doctor offices per 1,000 people, compared to 29.2 for Naples.
Cumming also scored slightly higher than Naples with 10 recreation centers per 1,000 people compared to 9.4 for Naples.
Beverly Hills, Calif., has by far the easiest access to recreational and social opportunities with 33.7 rec centers per 1.000 people. However, the posh Southern California community’s tax burden is higher than either Cumming or Naples at 16.7%.
Beverly Hills finished third on the SmartAsset index with a score of 83.08.
Other cities considered friendly to retirees that made the index’s top 10 include Gig Harbor, Wash.; Westlake Village, Calif.; Media, Pa.; and the Jacksonville, Fla., suburb of Orange Park.
Despite the chilly winters, Michigan placed three cities on the index of best places to retire: Farmington, Gross Pointe and Grand Blanc.
Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill (Photo credit: news-daily.com)
ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp suspended Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill Wednesday pending the final outcome of a federal indictment charging him with civil rights violations.
Hill was indicted in federal court in April on four counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, charges that carry a maximum of 10 years in prison.
He is accused of ordering his employees to strap four pre-trial detainees at the Clayton County Jail into restraint chairs last year and leaving them there for hours.
“Our constitution prohibits law enforcement officers from using unreasonable force,” Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine said at the time of the indictments. “Sheriff Hill’s actions, as alleged by the grand jury, deprived the citizens he was sworn to protect of their civil rights. Such abuses of power not only harm the victims, they also erode the community’s trust in law enforcement.”
“Badges and guns don’t come with the authority to ignore the Constitution. They come with the responsibility to protect it from anyone who would violate it, especially another public servant,” added Christopher Macrae, assistant special agent in charge at the FBI’s Atlanta office.
“Sheriff Hill is alleged to have abused his privileges and abandoned his responsibilities, and the FBI is committed to restoring trust in law enforcement by holding him accountable.”
Hill has called the charges politically motivated. His lawyer said in April that restraint chairs are commonly used in jails across the nation.
Hill was first elected Clayton’s sheriff in 2004 but lost his re-election bid four years later. He won the job back in 2012, and was re-elected in 2016 and again last year.
This isn’t Hill’s first brush with the law in discharging his duties. He was acquitted in 2013 of charges that he had used the office of sheriff for personal gain.
Hill, a Democrat, served one term in the Georgia House of Representatives before being elected sheriff.
Kemp appointed a commission last month to review the indictment against Hill. In a report handed down Tuesday, the commission determined the charges would adversely affect the performance of his duties and recommended suspending him from office.
The suspension will continue pending the final disposition of the case or until Hill’s term expires, whichever comes first.
ATLANTA – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Georgia will receive $15 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds for camp and after-school programs, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday.
The money comes from a pot of $3 billion set aside in a stimulus bill Congress passed last year for the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER).
In Georgia, the funds will be distributed among 34 Boys & Girls Clubs serving 9,000 young people at 141 sites in 62 counties.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Georgia have done a remarkable job serving the needs of youth across the Peach State,” Kemp said.
“With this GEER funding, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Georgia will be able to further enhance student academic achievement by addressing educational gaps caused by the pandemic.”
The funds will be distributed through September of next year, supporting summer and winter camp programs and an after-school program for youths between the ages of five and 18.
The program’s goals including ensuring that 65% of students below grade level will return to grade level by the end of the program, with the other 35% showing progress toward grade-level achievement.
The average cost of the programs is $1,550 per child.
