Sunday, April 18, 2010

Spending Money on the Football Hall of Fame over Spending Money on Educating the Students in Georgia

The Georgia State House members vote to appropriate to spend $10 million appropriation to help move the College Football Hall of Fame to Georgia. On the other, hand the same Georgia State House Passes 2011 Budget eliminating the National Board Certification Funding. However, Representative Thompson chastised legislators for their poor priorities reminding them that they promised to pay for National Board Certification but were now voting to eliminate funding for the program in the 2011 Budget.

The same Georgia State House that is spending $10 million next year to help move the College Football Hall of Fame to Georgia is going next year to make cuts to QBE funding which means that QBE is cumulatively under funded by approximately 1 million dollars. Since about 90% of QBE funding is spent on education salaries, such large cuts to QBE will inevitably lead to furloughs; lay offs, and increased class sizes.

Currently it is not a secret that the Georgia House and Senate are not providing funds appropriately to fund the Georgia Department of Education. There is rumbling and talk about the possibility of doing away with the Georgia Department of Education due to lack of funds. This was the topic of discussion today in my graduate class. My teacher is a consultant for the state and she learned recently that the state department really does no longer have money and really are going to have to cut back to a skeleton team. She also learned that there is a possibility that the Federal Government may just end of having a satellite office in Georgia instead of a Georgia State Department. I am in shock at this thought and hope that this is just a rumor she heard at a state meeting.

I know we spend a great deal of time watching our school board members. However, we also need to watch our legislative branch. I do understand that the Football Hall of Fame coming to Georgia may bring in some money. However, $10 million dollars in this economy is a great deal of money. Our children should come first in Georgia.

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