| Gainesville City School System Charter System Frequently Asked Questions
Why should we petition for charter system status?
(Example: Waive the ITBS to spend more time on instructional programs and analysis of our pre- and post-tests.) Note: If such a waiver were allowed, the Gainesville City School System would offer the ITBS at no charge to all children at the request of the parent.
Will my child still attend the same school? The charter will not impact attendance zones.
Will ‘Academies of Choice’ continue under a charter system? ‘Academies of Choice’ at every school will continue under a charter system.
Will charter system status cause any issues with students applying to college? No, high school students can still earn a diploma, take the SAT and work with guidance counselors on college applications.
What would be the impact on future bond and SPLOST referendum? The system charter will not impact the possibilities of future bond and SPLOST referendums.
Would this affect our participation in athletics, particularly the Georgia High School Association? No, we will remain a member of the GHSA and continue to compete in Georgia.
Why does this application timeline seem so short? The timeline is so short because the legislation was passed at the end of the 2006-2007 legislative session (June 30, 2007). The Department of Education released guidance to school districts in September.
What is the length of a charter? Initial charter is five years. Revisions to the charter can be made each year.
When will public hearings be held? Public hearings will be held on December 17, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. and January 7, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.
What will happen to the current teachers? Our charter system petition has no impact on salaries or benefits. Teachers will continue to be paid from the state salary scale with local supplements, participate in the State Health Plan and state retirement systems and earn tenure.
Would the mission of the system change under charter? Our mission will remain the same.
Will the system budget change? What might happen if we do not pursue district charter status? The budget process will remain the same. It is important to note that possible legislation that would change property tax – House Resolution 900, would have a monumental impact on the quantity and quality of services in our system.
Will the board composition change? Will they still be elected officials? The 5-member board will remain the governing body and the election process will remain the same.
What happens to students with disabilities and students that are gifted? All students will continue to be served under the charter.
Are there other school systems in the state applying for this status? Marietta City and City Schools of Decatur have shown significant interest in applying.
Questions and Response From December 17 Public Hearing
Will the charter system application affect salaries and benefits? Charter system status will not affect salaries and benefits. We will continue using the State salary schedule and local supplement.
Will the charter system application affect class size? The Gainesville City School Board and administration will continue to follow the State recommendations for maximum class size with the ultimate goal of further reducing class size. In the Charter System Petition Application, class size was calculated as required by the State. Class size is calculated by dividing all certified personnel by the number of students in the school. This would include all administrators, counselors, media specialist and literacy coaches. We understand that teachers have a higher number of students in their classroom than this calculation indicates, but for the Charter System Petition Application we must adhere to State guidelines.
What type of flexibility will be at the school level? Will Central Office override decisions made at the school level? School Improvement Councils will continue to serve as an advisory group for each academy. Recommendations from each advisory group will be presented to the local school board for review and approval. Local decisions could be overridden by the Superintendent and the school board based on system policy, mission and vision of the system.
What type of parental access will be available regarding student achievement? Access to student achievement data is currently available. Through PowerSchool, a user name and password is given to parents and students to review grades and attendance. In addition, parents have access via Hallways to pre- and post test data. System-by-system data access is available at http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/.
Since winter 2007, why has the system changed their mind about charter systems? The information provided in February regarding charter systems was not a comprehensive overview. Information regarding impact of funding was unclear. We are now aware that there will be no impact on State funding under the Charter System Act and realize there are many advantages with funding and flexibility to benefit teaching and learning.
What type of additional funding are we eligible to receive? We are eligible for a one-year $125,000 implementation grant from the State. Additionally, we are eligible for up to a two-year $600,000 implementation grant from the Federal government plus the ability to apply for grants specifically designated for charter systems.
How will we provide flexibility for academic achievement for students not meeting standards on tests? Currently, each academy utilizes the pre- and post-assessment to determine whether standards have been met by students. We will continue to monitor student progress through the use of those assessments and provide acceleration within after-school and summer programs to extend learning time.
Would it be better for our system to wait until next year to apply for charter system status? Our efforts to pursue the charter system status at this time are based on the efforts of our teachers and administrators to create the ideal teaching and learning environment. We want to be one of the models for the State in accountability and achievement. Charter system status will allow our system to receive credit for the innovation and reforms that have guided our system for the last five years. It would seem untimely for us not to seize the opportunity to be a leader in this endeavor.
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