District Budget Shortfall, Community Opposition Guided Wilkerson's Vote on HR 1162

The Senate on Wednesday tabled House Resolution 1162, which would allow Georgians to vote in November on a proposed constitutional amendment to restore the state's power to approve charter schools.

Ever since a  that approved 16 state-commissioned charter schools, proponents of school choice–like Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan (D-Austell)– have worked to reverse the 4-3 ruling that left a number of charters scrambling to find ways to open their doors in time for the start of the 2011-12 school year.

Austell Rep. David Wilkerson issued a s. Nine days later, the American Federation for Children released Wilkerson's answers to one of their surveys he completed when he was running for office with a headline that read, "Wilkerson Backtracks on Pledge to Support Educational Options."

The school choice advocacy organization is associated with the PAC of the same name and also employs South Cobb School Board member David Morgan, husband of Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan, a strong and outspoken proponent of the state charter commission.

Wilkerson, who was one of 48 representatives to vote no on the resolution, had answered "yes" to a question on the June 2010 survey asking whether he supported the then-existing state charter commission's ability to approve charter schools that were denied by local school boards.

In a phone interview with South Cobb Patch, Wilkerson admitted that he had approved of the existing state charter school commission, but said that was before the state supreme court ruled it unconstitutional and before Cobb County considered cutting more than 350 teaching positions as it faces a $62 million shortfall.

Wilkerson said that of all the board of education members, district superintendents and educators he contacted about the proposed resolution, David Morgan was the only one to support it.

"I am supportive of charter schools and of parents having choice. My priority is making sure traditional public schools are adequately funded," Wilkerson said.

According to the website of the Georgia General Assembly and an Associated Press report, lawmakers debated the issue for two hours, but didn't have the required 38 votes to get a two-thirds majority.

The measure can be brought up again during any regular session of the Senate this year because the  last Wednesday. It shortly thereafter.

Wilkerson said he does believe the Senate will bring the issue back at some point.

Where do other public officials stand on the proposed charter school amendment?

•  to a column from  (D-Atlanta), who said he supports charters, but "will never support decimating public schools nor taxing our citizens without representation."
•  (R-Milton) prepared a document of frequently asked questions on the topic.

Should Georgia allow a state charter commission, which could override decisions made by local school districts to reject certain charter petitions?