Thanks to his leadership, Gov. Nathan Deal visited an accredited DeKalb school today

Your Georgia Desk

In 2013, Gov. Nathan Deal stood alongside some members of the DeKalb delegation to address the school crisis.
Gov. Nathan Deal today visited DeKalb’s Chamblee Charter High School students and educators as they begin the new school year. The school is ranked No. 11 in the state by US News & World report.

In 2013, however, Chamblee Charter and the rest of DeKalb County schools faced a crisis. Due to the dysfunction of its board, the school system risked losing its accreditation, putting nearly 100,000 students in jeopardy.
Working with local leaders who had the courage to step forward, Gov. Deal took the necessary steps to save the system’s accreditation.

“In hindsight, we know the governor did the right thing for DeKalb’s children,” said State School Board Member Lisa Kinnemore. “At the time, however, many thought it was politically risky.”
Senator Jason Carter was one of them.

“Senator Carter waited to see which way the political wind would blow rather than standing up for students in his district,” Deal for Governor spokeswoman Jen Talaber said.

“Rather than support the governor during a time of crisis that required firm leadership, Carter’s statements were a study in political calculus, staking out positions on both sides of the issue. That’s why he hid behind cameras when Gov. Deal stood with a bipartisan and diverse group of leaders to save the system. Carter’s finger in the wind did no favors for DeKalb students and homeowners – who would have seen property values plummet. Gov. Deal’s leadership led to the system regaining accreditation.”

While Senator Carter played politics, Deal worked cooperatively with Republicans and Democrats alike to put our children first.

“Georgians are tired of politicians who run for the hills when tough issues arise,” Kinnemore said. “The good news is Georgians don’t have to vote for one. We have a leader who makes the tough decisions today so that we have a stronger Georgia tomorrow.”