Received today. -jsq

Dear Media:

I am sure you are aware that the vote of whether or not to consolidate


the Valdosta City Schools into the Lowndes County School System will be
held November 8, 2011. The City only is being asked to vote on whether
to dissolve the Valdosta City School charter. The proponents of the
referendum had a choice between putting the referendum in front of the
county and city or the city alone. The Lowndes County Board of
Education asked

the proponents to allow both the city and the county to
vote if they chose to go forward. Instead, the proponents moved forward
under a 1926 law that allows the city to vote to revoke its charter.
The county is not allowed to vote. If this happens, the county
residents will be forced to carry the burden of consolidation without
any say so in the matter.

The proponents appear to have chosen the 1926 law and a low turnout
election year to seek this referendum under the theory that a minority
of voters in favor can become a majority in an off election year,
especially if the voters are un-informed, indifferent or mislead.

Accordingly, the proponents of consolidation have embarked on a very


expensive campaign of false and misleading information and have invoked
race issues in radio and mail-out political advertisement implying that
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Dream” would require a vote for
consolidation. In addition, they have provided absolutely zero evidence
that consolidation will increase academic performance, reduce the
expense of education or increase economic performance. In fact, the
evidence shows just the opposite.

I have composed a Grassroots Handbook Against School Consolidation: The


Truth About School Consolidation in Valdosta/Lowndes County that was
issued October 12, 2011 to bring some coherency to the real issues, to
expose all of the false and misleading information put forth by the
proponents of school consolidation, and to show that consolidation is
not in the best interest of the children or community at this time. It
will impede the progresses recently experienced by Valdosta City Schools
and will produce a tremendous economic hardship on the community all in
a time of economic crisis.

Attached is my latest revision (101811) of the Grassroots
Handbook that
updates the response to the proponents accusation concerning graduation
rates at Valdosta High School.


I have also updated and added additional
information or responses. I am sending this out to as many media who
may be interested in setting the record straight on this consolidation
issue in Valdosta, Georgia. You may post or distribute this Handbook
widely and freely. The purpose is to inform the electorate and help
them make a wise choice.

I will continue to update this Handbook as issues arise that need to be
examined. If you have any issues that are not addressed but you think
should be addressed and added to the handbook, please let me know. If
you have any other information or questions, please email me. Thanks.

David E. Mullis