Large crowd attends public hearing on charter schools in Dougherty

ALBANY — A surprisingly large crowd turned out Monday for the first of two public hearings on the Dougherty County School System’s move to a new Charter School System. The new system will take effect in the 2016-17 school year beginning next school year.

Noon public hearings are usually sparsely attended, but this was not the case Monday.

DCSS Charter System Internal Consultant Jewel Faison facilitated the discussion. While most in the crowd approved the move which will allowing more flexibility and autonomy withing the districts 23 schools, some did express concerns.

Jennifer Williams, a mother of two grade school children, said she had “done a lot of research on charter systems, she was worried how the system would reprogram its principals and other school administrators to accept the change over.”

“We are looking for a trickle-down effect which will help our school leaders make an adjustment,” Faison answered.

Rance Pettibone said the changeover “scares the hell out of me.”

“We could not get our PTOs and PTAs to work, so it seems possible we could be creating elitist change within the schools,” Pettibone said. “Why not use our own best practices?”

Faison said the push behind the change was to free district schools, which are facing four basic challenges including:

— Improving cultural issues and a perception of the system.

— A lack of early childhood readiness for school.

— How to strengthen Literacy and Math instruction for all students.

— How to reduce grade retention and address middle to high school transition.

Some of the proposed initiatives included in the application, which must be sent to the Georgia Department of Education in early November, include beginning a Montessori-style education in Pre-K, enhancing gifted education, strengthening STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs, enhance Move On When Ready (MOWR) to increased numbers of dually enrolled students, establishing a career academy and possibly creating single-sex academies.

Georgia Board of Early Care and Learning member Susan Harper called the change over a “wonderful opportunity” for Dougherty County.

“We can’t break the cycle of poverty in southwest Georgia because our children are not ready for Pre-K — they are suffering from the 30 million word gap,” she said. “By the time children in poverty reach Pre-K they have heard 30 million fewer words than other children. This is a great opportunity for Albany’s children, but we have to wake up to take advantage of it.”

To review the charter application and to make suggestions, visit www.docoschools.org.

The next public hearing will be held Monday, Oct. 12, at 5:30 p.m. at the school administration building.