Memorandum from Mary Kay Murphy
Mary Kay Murphy, Ph.D. District 3  School Board Member marykaymurphy@aol.com

January 12, 2011 

2011 Intersects for GCPS with 
Federal, State, and Local Legislators

As District III Board Member for the Gwinnett Board of Education, I will represent you at the 2011 Federal Relations Network in Washington, D.C. in February.

The major item of business before the 112th Congress in the area of education is reauthorization of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act at the behest of former President Lyndon Johnson. The Act was updated and renamed the No Child Left Behind legislation in 2001 under the leadership of former President George W. Bush.

Provisions of the law have been under review since the law expired in 2008. Every Congress since has reauthorized funding for the law, without addressing reforms that have been requested by states, political parties, educators, and parent groups across the nation.

It is expected that the reauthorization in 2011 will be spirited in its debate. Members of the Federal Relations Network from across the nation will meet in Washington, D.C. to discuss strategy and then to visit Congressional delegations from the U.s. House and the U.S. Senate.

The Georgia delegation, led by the Georgia School Boards Association and its Executive Director Sis Henry, will attend the Federal Relations Network conference and travel as a group to Capitol Hill to meet with the Honorable Johnny Isakson and the Honorable Saxby Chambliss at the U.S. Senate Offices and then meet with individual Congressman from Georgia’s congressional districts.

As a member of the GSBA Board of Directors, I have been asked to meet with U.S. Congressman Rob Woodall, newly elected 7th District Congressman. I look forward to this meeting with Congressman Woodall to discuss reauthorization of No Child Left Behind (formerly Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965) as well as the Congressman’s support for the Fair Tax, for public education funding, and for his collaboration with Gwinnett County Public Schools on closing the achievement gap and other key federal and state issues.

February will also bring opportunities for the Georgia School Boards Association to meet with members of the Georgia General Assembly to discuss state education funding. As District V representative on the GSBA Board, I will participate in leading a delegation of School Board members from Buford City, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, and the City of Atlanta for a meeting with House and Senate members.

T he Agenda for this meeting in February 2011 will focus on anticipated funding levels for public education in 2011-12.

Governor Nathan Deal has presented his goals for funding public education in Georgia. These include ending furloughs for teachers. Gwinnett County Public Schools presented its legislative priorities to members of the Gwinnett Delegation to the Georgia General Assembly. We look forward to working with our Gwinnett Delegation through the 2011 session on securing funding and support for our School System’s priorities.

Congratulations to Georgia House of Representatives member Tom Rice on being elected to Chair the Gwinnett Delegation for the House in the 2011 Session. Representative Rice heads the Motor Vehicle Committee of the General assembly and is the third longest-serving member of the delegation. He represents Peachtree Corners, Johns Creek, and other affiliated areas.

Congratulations also to Senator Fran Millar on his election in November 2010 to represent Peachtree Corners, Dunwoody, and other affiliated areas in the Georgia Senate. Senator Millar served in the Georgia House of Representatives representing Dunwoody and Peachtree Corners. He follows former Senator Dan Weber of Dunwoody who did not seek re-election in 2010.

At the local level, congratulations to 2nd District Commissioner Lynette Howard who succeeds former Gwinnett County Commissioner on the Gwinnett County Commission. Commissioner Howard represents Peachtree Corners, Norcross, Lilburn, and areas of Parkview. She was elected to her first term in November 2010.

It is a privilege to represent District 3 on the Gwinnett Board of Education and to work with other leaders on behalf of public education in Gwinnett County, in the State of Georgia, and in the United States.

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