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SUMMARY: LC 25 6446
This is a constitutional amendment allowing the General Assembly to change the local governance structure in any school system to the election of the local superintendent by the voters and the appointment of the local board by a grand jury. The General Assembly would set the qualifications for the superintendent.
The ballot question would be:
Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by law for election of local school superintendents by voters and election of members of local boards of education by grand juries, as an alternative to appointment of local school superintendents by local boards of education and election of local school board members by voters?
See SB 81 for the enabling legislation
POINTS TO CONSIDER:
In 1992, 66% of the voters chose to amend the Constitution so that members of the local board are elected and appoint the superintendent. The change became effective in 1996.
Prior to the amendment the Constitution stated the grand jury would select the local board members and the superintendent would be elected although local legislation could be used to call for a referendum vote to change the selection method of the board and/or the superintendent.
According to 1992 news articles, 107 of the 183 superintendents were elected as were 148 of the local boards.
The major reasons for the change were: to allow superintendents to focus on the educational needs in their school system rather than the politics of getting re-elected
to allow local boards to seek out the best candidates for superintendent no matter where they lived
Having the grand jury select board members is likely to create additional tension in communities.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The amendment would have to pass each chamber by a 2/3 vote and would be on the 2016 ballot.
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