Debate Over Hillgrove Attendence Zones Draws Crowd

January 14, 2006 - The Cobb County Republican party drew a larger than usual crowd last Saturday thanks to a face off between Representative Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs) and Cobb Board of Education Chair Dr. Teresa Plenge (Post 7) over the Hillgrove High School attendance zones.

The meeting opened with a presentation from Fulton County Commission Chair Karen Handel who is running for Secretary of State. During the presentation she adressed ther issues of voter fraud and election voting reform endorsing the revamped voter ID bill now moving through the Georgia legislature.

She was also in favor of denying illegal immigrants drivers license and punishing employers of illegal immigrants.

She advocated for a papertrail for voters and wanted to replace the current voting machines with newer models that were more secure. She endorsed the Cobb Pilot Program for paper trails. There are approximately 2,000 voting machines in Cobb County.

Karen Handel was followed by a question and answer session with State Senator Earl Erhart and Cobb Board of Education chairperson Teresa Plenge. During the Session Dr. Plenge retracted her earlier statement that "the use of racial diversity in school redistricting comes down to being in compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act." (East Cobb Neighbor, Thursday, 26 January 2006).

Angry parents lambasted Dr. Plenge while Ehrhart looked on. While the discussion was still in full swing, Dr. Plenge excused herself for a hair appointment.

Among all th talk of how the new Cobb Hillgrove High School is using race to determine the new school zones, the question is begged - What should be used? Is it race, geography, socio-economic demographics, or academic performance? How does one level th playing field in order to provide educational opportunity for all? Let me know.