Education next topic

May 19, 2009

Local superintendents, legislators to attend tonight’s citizens meeting

Anonymous The Times Enterprise Tue May 19, 2009, 09:52 PM EDT

Staff report

THOMASVILLE — Everyone in the Times-Enterprise coverage area is invited to receive a lesson in education today.

Georgia Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox is slated to be the keynote speaker at a 6 p.m. citizens meeting at the Thomasville Municipal Auditorium. Cox is set to offer a PowerPoint presentation before answering questions from the audience.

“We hope people will take advantage of this opportunity to learn about the future of education in our state,” said Times-Enterprise managing editor Mark Lastinger, who started organizing occasional citizens meetings with local teacher and Times-Enterprise columnist Randy Young last fall. “There are a lot of changes in the works, and it’s not often that we get to hear from the foremost authority on the subject.”

Cox, a public school teacher for 15 years, was elected to her post in 2002 and was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2006. Since taking office, she has overseen sweeping reforms in Georgia’s public education system.

Superintendents of the Grady County, Thomas County and Thomasville City school systems are also expected to be on hand to answer questions. In addition, state Reps. Ellis Black and Mike Keown have indicated their intentions to attend.

“Education, with a little effort, is an area where everyone ought to be able to get on the same page,” Lastinger said. “We’re all dependent on the success of our schools.”

Previous citizens meetings topics include property taxes, the Fair Tax, the 2009 General Assembly session and the role of fathers in American families.