City Schools of Decatur Board of Education: (left to right) Tasha White, Vice Chair Garrett Goebel, Lewis Jones, Chair Annie Caiola, Superintendent Dr. David Dude, and Bernadette Seals. Source: City Schools of Decatur

Decatur’s School Board is considering weighing in on a proposal to allow the state to take over chronically failing schools.

School Boards around the state have passed resolutions opposing the creation of the Opportunity School District, which is on the ballot Nov. 8. The Decatur School Board’s Oct. 11 agenda says the board intends to, “Discuss, and perhaps approve, a resolution regarding the Opportunity School District.”

[adsanity id=27331 align=aligncenter /]

City Schools of Decatur is unlikely to be affected by OSD, if it passes, but may feel pressure to go on record. Former Decatur School Board chair Valarie Wilson, who is now executive director of the  Georgia School Boards Association, has publicly opposed the ballot measure.

The DeKalb School Board recently went on record opposing OSD.

“Local control of education is a bedrock American principle,” the DeKalb County School Board’s statement says. “We strongly believe that citizens whose taxes pay for a majority of the cost of educating our children should exercise control over decisions relating to that education. We believe it is not only wrong but risky to give up local control to a new state bureaucracy.”

The Decatur School Board meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at CSD’s central offices, located at 125 Electric Avenue in Decatur. All meetings are open to the public.

[adsanity id=9849 align=aligncenter /]