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Politics & Government

School Board to Approve Voting Map

The county Board of Education is expected to OK Chairwoman Alison Bartlett's proposed reapportionment plan this morning.

The Cobb County Board of Education plans to vote this morning to accept the reapportionment map that was presented by board Chairwoman Alison Bartlett and approved 6-1 by the board July 28.

Among other things, Bartlett said July 28 that her map aimed to more evenly distribute the 16 high schools among board posts. Right now, posts range from one to four high schools each.

But Bartlett and others also aimed to keep communities and schools within the boundaries of their current posts. The proposed reapportionment map and the current district map are attached to this article.

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Bartlett, whose Post 7 includes the center of the county south of Marietta, including Green Acres, Russell and Norton Park elementary schools, would expand westward under her plan, could not be reached for comment.

Board member David Banks of Northeast and East Cobb’s Post 5 also presented a reapportionment map July 28. Last week he updated his proposal and sent the changes to fellow board members.

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“What I’m trying to get is zero deviation,” Banks said of the 90,214 average residents needed for each board post.

The General Assembly will finalize the redistricting for local governments and school boards, as Board Attorney Clem Doyle reminded the board July 28.

With congressional and legislative redistricting taking priority, Banks said today's reapportionment vote likely will be premature.

“My understanding is that reapportionment for county and school boards isn’t even going to be brought up in August,” Banks said. “My understanding is it might wait until January.”

Stephanie Mayfield, Gov. Nathan Deal’s press secretary, said Deal plans to issue a call at 9:30 this morning for a special session about redistricting.

Also on the agenda for the Board of Education’s 8:30 a.m. work session is a recommendation to approve new Superintendent Michael Hinojosa’s goals, developed Saturday at a special board meeting. The three goals for this year are to raise student achievement while addressing gaps among groups, to develop current and three-year financial plans, and to address the needs of students who aren’t aiming for college, the Marietta Daily Journal reported.

The MDJ also reported that Banks will present a proposal today to give school district employees a 1 percent pay raise, even though the budget for this school year already relies on one-time revenues to achieve balance.

In preparation for action at its regular meeting Aug. 25, the board also will discuss capital projects financed with the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, including:

  • Additions and modifications to that will cost an estimated $3.9 million.
  • An estimated $1.4 million worth of work on the South Cobb Drive transportation support facility.
  • The rebuilding project, whose low bid came in $2.6 million over budget at $19.66 million.

Banks said he wasn’t fazed by the Wheeler project’s coming in more than 15 percent over budget. “We have the money, and if we’re going to do it, we might as well do it right.”

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