Last week, Lake Oconee News released information regarding a formal complaint brought forward by the Greene County Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Chris Houston.
The complaint centered on allegations of breaking a Georgia law that states priority enrollment can be given only to students who are children of full-time personnel. However, the word “other” in the law was being contested as to also include students of part-time employees.
The BOE complaint says that 99 children were enrolled by priority admission given the employment of a parent or guardian part time to the school. Further, it alleges that the practice was an effort to bypass the lottery and gave these students priority over many others on the wait list. The practice is seen to be unfair to parents who work full time and do not have the ability to work part time.
At this week’s LOA Board of Governors meeting, Michael Tompkins, current board chair, said and later issued the following to Lake Oconee News: “Just when I thought we could work together in harmony, the BOE authorizes an article that threatens the one educational consistent success story in Greene County, impacting about 1,200 students, 150 employees and the thousands of citizens in a growing community.
I asked why? Why now? The BOE asserts its lawyers advised it, according to Tompkins. The reality is politics and a single person’s need to protect his job.
This is shameful, deplorable, and decisions like this must stop.
LOA’s board will continue to serve the best interests of our students and employees. We do not commit our time, talent or treasure to deal with this defaming nonsense. Once again, the BOE is putting politics above the children of Greene County.”
Lake Oconee News reached out to Dr. Tucker, former CEO and now a paid consultant to the board, about his response. He replied in an email response: “As per state law, parttime employees were given these privileges under ‘other employees.’ There are those who agree with that interpretation and those who do not. However, it did not appear to be an issue for the past 16 years or until a political campaign.”
Also at last week’s meeting, parents expressed displeasure of the BOE and asked questions about timing and intent of the BOE.
BOE Chairman Dr. Perry Lee answered that Houston is required to report any infractions and that this was seen as a serious one. Additionally, he was asked if this was politically motivated, to which he replied, “no.”
Lee also said he did not have the complaint with him when a parent inquired. He commented that LOA Executive Director Dr. Brad Bowling could request it from Houston.
“I would encourage Dr. Bowling to reach out to Dr. Houston, and I am sure he will do it,” he said.
When pressed further about political intent, Lee affirmed that an investigation had begun, and they had followed up accordingly.
In a phone call to Bowling Tuesday, he confirmed that he was in receipt of the complaint and would be sharing it with the board.
Tompkins told Lake Oconee News that, once a review was completed by the LOA board, he would formally issue another response. However, he stated in an email that the board and Bowling have taken the position to avoid allowing priority admission for children of parttime employees.
Tompkins added that pending legislation, HB 1122, which will allow enrollment of students from part-time employment at 20 hours a week if signed into law, is confirmation that a state charter school official has agreed with Tucker and LOA’s earlier claims made that the law allowed for such priority enrollment. He stated that the legislation is intended to clarify the part-time priority confusion.