Lt. Gov. Cagle promotes local control over schools

Published 11:41 pm Thursday, March 22, 2007

CRANDALL — Local governments need to regain control of their school systems, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said Thursday night.

“We need real local control when we talk about education,” Cagle said at the Chatsworth-Murray County Chamber of Commerce’s 29th annual banquet at Cohutta Springs. “I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all education system. What works in Murray County may not work in Chatham County down on the coast.”

State “bureaucrats” should not bind boards of education, said Cagle, a Republican originally from Gainesville. This is his first year as lieutenant governor after being elected last year. He was a state senator for 12 years previously.

“We don’t need more mandates and more rules,” Cagle said.

Cagle said that is why he introduced the Charter School System Act, which has passed the state Senate and is awaiting approval in the House of Representatives.

“You are free of state mandates” if the act passes, Cagle said. The act will allow school systems to establish a charter school to meet the needs of each community. For example, if an area excels in science and math or technology, the charter school would focus on those areas.

“When you allow flexibility you will see true educational excellence,” Cagle said. “I believe it is the way we will improve public education.”

A charter school, or a career academy like the one in Whitfield County that focuses on options outside of pursuing a college degree, is a way Cagle thinks systems can improve the dropout rate. Murray County’s dropout rate is a little less than 50 percent.

“Many times (students) don’t see the relevance in what they’re learning,” he said. “Not every child needs to be on a path to go to college. Many need a path for technical learning.

“I grew up thinking doctors and lawyers made all the money. I realized it wasn’t the doctors and lawyers. It was the plumbers and electricians.”

Studies show that 80 percent of students will need “some kind of technical training” to make it in the work force in the next few years, Cagle said.

“America has always prided itself on having the ability to have intellectual knowledge and power available,” he said. “We are on the verge of losing that.”

Also at the banquet, 2006 awards were presented by last year’s chairman of the chamber board, Steve Anglea. The following received last year’s awards:

Harris Sutton Chevrolet for business of the year.

Jim Hazel, director of Murray Medical Center, for business man of the year.

Vivian Dixon, managing editor of The Chatsworth Times, for business woman of the year.

Tim Howard, local historian and educator, for humanitarian of the year.

Karen Owens for delegate of the year.

Maria Bradley, principal of Gladden Middle School, for the chairman’s award.