>>> HELLO, I'M LEO, HOETS AND REPORTER OF "TECH CAST" IN ATLANTA.

WELCOME TO THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB LOUDERMILK-YOUNG DEBATE.

THIS IS THE DAY BAIT AMONG DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES FOR STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

LET'S MEET THE CANDIDATES FOR THIS DEBATE.

THEY ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, CURREY HITCHENS, IS AN ATTORNEY.

JAHA HOWARD IS A MEMBER OF THE COBB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND A DENTIST.

JAMES MORROW IS AN EDUCATOR AND ALISHA THOMAS SEARCY IS A FORMER GEORGIA STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

NOW LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS.

KRISTAL DIXON IS A REPORTER AT "AXIOS" ATLANTA AND TY TAGAMI COVERS EDUCATION FOR "THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION."

FOR COMPLETE RULES ON TODAY'S DEBATE PLEASE VISIT THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB WEBSITE, ATLANTAPRESSCLUB.ORG.

TO START THE DEBATE, EACH DEBATE WILL BE ASKED ONE QUESTION BY THE PANELIST AND EACH PANELIST HAS 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER EACH OTHER.

CRIST KRISTAL YOU HAVE THE FIRST CONCEPT.

>> WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE LEGISLATION ON BEING TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HOW DO YOU THINK IT WILL AFFECTS STUDENTS AS WELL AS TEACHERS?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I'M CONCERNED THAT POLITICS IS DIVIDING US WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION AND I THINK THE DIVISIVE LEGISLATION THAT'S NOW SIGNED INTO LAW THAT "BANNED BOOKS" OR BANNED TOPICS IS A DISTRACTION FROM WHAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON IN OUR STATE.

WE HAVE 1.8 MILLION STUDENTS WHO ARE IN SCHOOL RIGHT NOW WHO DON'T HAVE THE HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING A STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT WHO WILL REMOVE THE POLITICS AWAY FROM EDUCATION, FOCUS ON CHILDREN.

OUR KIDS ARE NOT DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.

THEY ARE KIDS WHO DESERVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION AND THEY DESERVE TO HAVE ONE THAT IS RELEVANT CULTURALLY AND OTHERWISE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ENSURING THAT ALL OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE A REFLECTION OF WHO THEY ARE AS STUDENTS.

>> TY TAGAMI, YOUR TURN TO ASK A QUESTION OF JAMES MORROW.

>> HELLO.

YOU HAVE BEEN A SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER FOR YEARS, AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT.

NOW YOU'RE RUNNING FOR STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN TELL US WHY YOU'RE MAKING THESE CHANGES.

>> WHY DID I SWITCH FROM SOCIAL STUDIES TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION?

>> YES AND WHY YOU'RE RUNNING.

>> MY PRINCIPAL FELT I'D HAVE MORE DISCIPLINE IN THE GYM BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN TEACHERS ARE ABSENT, WE CAN'T FIND SUBS TO COVER THEIR POSITIONS, DROPPING THEM IN THE GYM.

THIS PAST FRIDAY THERE WERE FIVE TEACHERS THAT WERE OUT AND THERE WERE NO SUBS TO REPLACE THEM SO I END UP HAVING TO COVER LIKE FIVE CLASSES BY MYSELF SO MY ADMINISTRATOR FEELS I'M A DISCIPLINE NAIR AREA, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY SHE MOVED ME FROM SOCIAL STUDIES TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

>> AND KRISTAL YOUR QUESTION FOR CURREY HITCHNESS?

>> A RECENT RAND CORPORATION POLL FOUND NEARLY HALF OF FORMER EDUCATORS SURVEYED SAID THEY LEFT THE PROFESSION AFTER MARCH 2020 BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

HOW WOULD YOU AS SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT HELP DISTRICTS AGAINST TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN TEACHERS AMID THE PANDEMIC?

>> THANK YOU FOR A GREAT QUESTION.

DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT ONE FOR OUR TIMES.

TEACHERS WHO ARE TEACHING ARE ALSO CONSIDERING LEAVING THE PROFESSION.

HALF OF THE TEACHERS LEFT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND MANY TEACHERS WHO ARE TEACHING NOW ARE CONSIDERING LEAVING FOR MANY REASONS, ONE BECAUSE THEY COULD GET PAID MORE ELSEWHERE AND ANOTHER BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC MADE THEIR JOB MUCH HARDER THAN IT USED TO BE.

I'D LOOK TO PAY TEACHERS MORE, PAY THEM IN LINE WITH WHAT OTHER PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE SIMILARLY EDUCATED MAKE, WHICH WOULD BE A GOOD START TOWARDS GETTING EDUCATORS TO STAY IN THE PROFESSION AND ALSO RESPECT THEM MORE, LET THEM ACTUALLY TEACH THE TRUTH IN THEIR CLASSES, FIGHT AGAINST THIS LAW THAT IS A DIVISIVE CONCEPT LAW AND TRUST OUR TEACHERS TO TEACH APPROPRIATE EDUCATION, APPROPRIATE HISTORY, APPROPRIATE CURRENT EVENTS TO STUDENTS AND I'D WORK HARD TO RECRUIT TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE THAT LIVE IN THE STATE, MAKE IT A DESIRABLE JOB FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO WANT TO GO INTO.

THANK YOU, KRISTAL.

>> TY, YOU GET THE QUESTION FOR JAHA HOWARD.

>> DR. HOWARD, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE COBB COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD IS DOMINATED BY REPUBLICANS.

SO YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH MUCH, AND I'M WONDERING, IF YOU WERE TO WIN AS STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, YOU'D BE ENTERING A SIMILAR ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE LEGISLATURE IS DOMINATED BY REPUBLICANS.

HOW COULD YOU BE EFFECTIVE?

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED IN YOUR ROLE IN COBB?

>> TY, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.

I DO REJECT THE PREMISE THAT WE HAVEN'T ACCOMPLISHED MUCH.

IF YOU ASK THE NUMEROUS FAMILIES IN COBB COUNTY WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED, THEY'LL PROBABLY TELL YOU THAT THEY ACTUALLY KNOW HOW THE BOARD WORKS.

THEY ACTUALLY ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.

THEY ARE MORE ENGAGED NOW THAN EVER BEFORE.

WE DID THAT ON A VERY LOCAL LEVEL IN THE CITY OF SMYRNA.

WE DID IT AT A COUNTY LEVEL AS BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND AS STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, WE'RE GOING TO ENGAGE THIS ENTIRE STATE TO MAKE SURE FOLKS KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

THIS IS PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION BELONGS TO YOU, THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU.

>> THAT CONCLUDES THE FIRST ROUND OF THE DEBATE.

THE CANDIDATES WILL NOW ASK A QUESTION TO AN OPPONENT OF THEIR CHOICE.

THEY HAVE 30 SECONDS TO ASK THE QUESTION, 60 SECONDS TO RESPOND AND THE CANDIDATE WHO ASKED THE QUESTION WILL THEN HAVE 30 SECONDS FOR A REBUTTAL.

RANDOM SELECTION, JAMES MORROW, YOU MAY ASK THE FIRST QUESTION.

>> MY FIRST QUESTION GOES TO DR. HOWARD.

YOU KNOW, BY YOU BEING A PEDIATRIC DENTIST, WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL YOU'D BE QUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION SINCE YOU'VE NEVER BEEN A TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM AND YOU REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PAINS AND ILLS TEACHERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THAT'S MY QUESTION, HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU COULD BE THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT WHEN YOU'VE NEVER BEEN A CLASSROOM TEACHER?

>> SURE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.

I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS, OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS EXPANDED PEOPLE'S IMAGINATION.

FOLKS ARE CONCERNED, THEY'RE LIKE WOW, YOU'RE A DENTIST, BUT YOU'RE SO ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WHAT THAT DOES IS IT HELPS US TO LEAD FROM A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES.

WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN ON THE GROUND LISTENING TO FAMILIES EVERY SINGLE DAY ABOUT HOW THEY'RE REALLY DOING, SOMEBODY THAT CAN WORK INDEPENDENTLY.

WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF A SYSTEM AND THEY FEEL THEY CAN'T SAY THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF WHO THEY'RE GOING TO BOTHER.

WE HAVE AUTONOMY, WE'RE LISTENING AND I HAVE TALKED TO SUPERINTENDENTS ACROSS THE STATE, BIG DISTRICTS AND SMALL, AND WHAT THEY SAY BY AND LARGE IS THAT WE NEED SOMEBODY WITH LEADERSHIP, WE NEED SOMEBODY WITH THE BACKBONE, SOMEONE THAT'S GOING TO PUT OUR CHILDREN FIRST AND BE THEIR ONLY SPECIAL INTEREST AND THAT'S WHAT WE BRING, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

>> MR. MORROW, YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND.

>> WELL, I WANT TO RESPOND TO SAYING CHILDREN FIRST.

OF COURSE WE'RE GOING TO PUT CHILDREN FIRST IN EDUCATION BUT AS A TEACHER, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PUT THE TEACHER FIRST.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF 90,000 TEACHERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND NOBODY'S KICKING DOWN ANY DOORS TO BECOME A TEACHER, SO IN ORDER FOR YOU TO SPEAK UP FOR STUDENTS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE QUALITY TEACHERS IN POSITIONS IN ORDER TO TEACH THESE KIDS.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TEACHERS, THERE'S NO WAY THE KIDS CAN LEARN.

THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, CURREY HITCHENS, YOU GET THE NEXT QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU.

DR. HOWARD, SORRY TO ALSO FOCUS ON YOU.

>> PERFECTLY FINE.

I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS.

>> I AM A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

MY QUESTION IS ABOUT STATEMENTS YOU MADE IN THE PAST, I'M ALSO A WOMAN SO SOME OF YOUR STATEMENTS WERE ALSO MISOGYNISTIC.

YOU MADE STATEMENTS THERE IS HOMOSEXUAL EDUCATION AND YOU THINK THAT HOMOSEXUALITY IS SINFUL WHICH MAKES YOU SAY I'M SINFUL AND WOMEN SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO TEACH OTHER WOMEN.

HOW CAN WE THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND WOMEN TRUST THAT YOU WOULD HAVE OUR INTERESTS AT HEART AND INTERESTS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY?

>> SURE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION, CURREY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO STEP BACK FOR A SECOND AND REMEMBER, AND REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE A GOAL IN MIND, AND THAT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE, MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN ARE RESPECTED, AND OUR FAMILIES ARE RESPECTED.

AS A PEDIATRIC DENTIST FOR OVER THE LAST 11 YEARS, I HAVE FAMILIES THAT COME TO MY OFFICE FROM ALL TYPES OF BACKGROUNDS, ALL KINDS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, BELIEFS, AND THEY BRING THAT TO THE TABLE, AND WE ALL AGREE ON ONE THING, WE WANT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND TREAT OUR CHILDREN WITH LOVE AND RESPECT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE AS A BUSINESS OWNER AND SOMEONE WHO TAKES CARE OF FAMILIES.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE ON THE COBB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AS YOU LOOK AT MY PUBLIC RECORD WHICH I NOTICE YOU DON'T HAVE.

FACEBOOK MESSAGES FROM 10, 15 YEARS AGO.

WE HAVE WORK TO DO, Y'ALL.

WE ARE IN A STATE WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT BELIEF SYSTEMS, PEOPLE ARE COMING TO THE TABLE AND WHAT WE NEED DO IS MAKE SURE WE WORK THROUGH THAT NUANCE, LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER, AND MOVE FORWARD AND FOCUS ON ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH COMPASSION.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU, DR. HOWARD.

I NOTICED THAT AGAIN YOU KIND OF DODGED THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION WHICH I'VE ALSO SEEN YOU DO IN PREVIOUS FORUMS, BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT YOUR RECORD BECAUSE WHAT YOU SEE ON THE TOP PAGE THAT I HAVE ON MY PODIUM IS ABOUT YOUR POST, I ACTUALLY LOOKED AT YOUR RECORD AND SAW EVEN ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN THE COBB COUNTY BOARD WAS LOOKING AT BANNING CRT, CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN SCHOOLS, YOU DIDN'T VOTE AGAINST IT, YOU ABSTAINED.

I LOOK AT YOUR RECORD AND I DON'T APPROVE OF THAT EITHER, THANK YOU.

>> JAHA HOWARD, IT IS YOUR TURN TO ASK THE QUESTION OF ONE OF YOUR OPPONENTS.

>> I APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION FROM ALL OF MY OPPONENTS.

I REALLY DO.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ON THE SIDE AND IT'S A GOOD DAY.

I'M GLAD WE CAN CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ONE OF MY OPPONENTS, ALISHA.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

YOU BRING UP AN ACADEMIC RECORD AS YOU WERE LEADING A NETWORK OF CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR A FEW YEARS.

YOU WALKED INTO SOME MAJOR CHALLENGES, FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, YOU HAVE MULTIPLE SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES, MANY OF THEM HAVE CLOSED SINCE.

I THINK THERE'S A NETWORK OF MAYBE 400 OR 500 STUDENTS, ABOUT THE SIZE OF HALF OF MY KIDS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

>> YOUR QUESTION PLEASE, DR. HOWARD?

>> MY QUESTION IS WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED IN THAT EXPERIENCE AS A CHARTER SCHOOL LEADER AND DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SCHOOL VOUCHERS ARE A PART OF THE SOLUTION TO MOVE FORWARD AS A STATE?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION AND ALLOWING ME TO CLEAR THE RECORD.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VOUCHERS AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS.

I HAVE A CLEAR RECORD OF VOTING AGAINST VOUCHERS.

I'VE NEVER SUPPORTED VOUCHERS IN THIS STATE.

SECONDLY, PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN GEORGIA ARE A PART OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND I'M A PROUD PROPONENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I'M ALSO VERY PROUD OF MY RECORD AS SUPERINTENDENT OF IVY PREP SCHOOLS.

OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAD A 43 WHEN I ARRIVED.

THREE YEARS LATER WHEN WE LEFT WE HAD AN 85.

SO I HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF CLOSING GAPS FOR STUDENTS.

OUR TEACHER ATTENTION RATE WAS 25% RETENTION RATE AND 75% WHEN I LEFT.

I'LL TELL YOU THE THING THAT I LEARNED.

I'M GLAD THAT I DIDN'T WIN STATE SUPERINTENDENT EIGHT YEARS AGO BECAUSE BEING IN THE JOB OF A SUPERINTENDENT HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT EIGHT YEARS AGO, I WASN'T READY AND THAT'S WHY I'M READY TODAY BECAUSE I HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS, THE BACKGROUND, THE EXPERIENCE, THE TRACK RECORD OF CLOSING GAPS, MAKING SURE THAT TEACHERS FEEL SUPPORTED AND RESPECTED, AND I WILL BE THE STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT WHO WILL DO EXACTLY WHAT I DID AT IVY PREP, WHICH IS CHANGE THE GAME FOR KIDS AND MAKE SURE EVERY KID IN GEORGIA HAS ACCESS TO A HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THANK YOU.

>> DR. HOWARD, YOUR RESPONSE?

30 SECONDS, PLEASE.

>> SURE, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR TRACK RECORD OF CLOSING GAPS.

I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THE PUBLIC HAS A MORE FULL UNDERSTANDING THAT IN SOME INSTANCES, YOU CLOSE THE GAPS AND OTHERS, SCHOOLS CLOSED AND THEY HAD TO GO BACK TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL, AND OTHER INSTANCES THERE WERE MAJOR FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAD TO WRESTLE WITH AND I'M JUST APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE BUT LET'S TELL THE FULL TRUTH THAT THERE ARE SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS AND YOU CAN LOOK AT IVY PREP RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE DOING OKAY BUT THERE ARE SOME MAJOR CHALLENGES UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU.

>> AND ALYSSA THOMAS SEARCY, YOU GET THE FINAL QUESTION IN THIS ROUND.

>> I'D LOVE TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH DR. HOWARD, IF HE COULD TALK TO US ABOUT YOU HAVE A REPUTATION IN COBB COUNTY.

I LIVE IN COBB COUNTY.

I SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR 12 YEARS AND AS I TALK TO LEADERS THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR REPUTATION OF BEING COMBATIVE, OF BEING AN ACTIVIST AND NEVER GETTING ANYTHING DONE.

AND SO COULD YOU TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT A POLICY THAT YOU'VE PASSED THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN COBB COUNTY SCHOOLS?

>> I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.

YOUR QUESTION IS ALSO SHOWING THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DOES.

A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER'S JOB IS TO OVERSEE A BUDGET, IN THIS CASE IN COBB COUNTY, $1.3 BILLION BUDGET, THAT'S ALMOST 10% OF THE STATE BUDGEBUDGET, BY WAY, HOLD THE SUPERINTENDENT ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.

A SUPERINTENDENT IS IN CHARGE OF OPERATIONS, AND SO I UNDERSTAND YOU MAY BE CONFUSING BEING A LEGISLATOR AND BEING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENCE.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO MEET ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THESE CONCERNS BECAUSE TALK TO A LEADER IN COBB COUNTY, YOU LIVE IN COBB COUNTY, YOU HAVE NOT ONCE VOICED YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT MY LEADERSHIP AND YOUR KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL IN OUR OWN BACK YARDS.

WE LIVE IN THE SAME COUNTY.

NOT ONCE HAVE YOU VOICED ANY CONCERNS AND NOW, WHEN WE'RE THREE DAYS OUT, THREE WEEKS OUT FROM ELECTION TIME, NOW ALL OF THE SUDDEN WE HAVE CONCERNS.

I CAN'T TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.

>> YOU KNOW, BEING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WHO PROTESTS A LOT IS GOOD, AND YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY IN THAT POSITION.

I'M VOICING MY CONCERN BECAUSE AS STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT WE HAVE TO GET THINGS DONE.

AS A STATE LEGISLATOROR 12 YEARS MY REPUTATION IS WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE.

I'M ONE OF THE FEW DEMOCRATS WHO PASSED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHO HAS PASSED LAWS IN A REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE AND VERY FAMILIAR WITH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND YOUR JOB IS ACTUALLY PART OF MY PROFESSIONAL JOB IS TO WORK WITH AND MENTOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND I MENTOR THEM SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH YOUR JOB AND MOST FAMILIAR WITH THAT OF THE STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AS A POLICY JOB AND A JOB THAT ENSURES THAT 1.8 MILLION STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION.

>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SECOND ROUND FOR THOSE JOINING US THIS IS A DEBATE BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

WE'LL GO BACK TO THE PANEL TO ASK QUESTIONS TO THE CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOICE UNTIL WE RUN OUT OF TIME.

AS A POINT OF MODERATOR PRIVILEGE I MAY ALSO ASK A QUESTION OF THE CANDIDATES AND DETERMINE WHEN REBUTTAL IS APPROPRIATE.

TY TAGAMI YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION IN THIS ROUND.

>> YOU SAID YOU NEVER VOTED FOR VOUCHERS.

2008 YOU VOTED FOR HOUSE BILL 1133 WHICH ESTABLISHED THE TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AT $50 MILLION.

IT HAS BEEN GROWING OVER THE YEARS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT JUST THIS YEAR, IT WAS EXPANDED TO $120 MILLION.

I'M WONDERING IF YOU CONSIDER THAT, WHY YOU DON'T CONSIDER THAT PROGRAM A VOUCHER AND IF YOU SUPPORT FURTHER EXPANSION OF IT.

>> SO A VOUCHER IS TAKING PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDS AND TAKING THEM TO PUT INTO ANOTHER PRIVATE SCHOOL.

I'VE NEVER VOTED FOR A VOUCHER.

THE ONLY VOUCHER THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA IS SB10 WHICH IS A SPECIAL NEEDS VOUCHER AND THAT'S A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.

THE TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID, IT'S A TAX CREDIT AND SO NONE OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE USED TO FUND THIS TAX CREDIT COME FROM THE K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION BUDGET.

SO IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PUBLIC CHARTERS, BETWEEN TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIPS, BETWEEN VOUCHERS.

AGAIN, I GO ON RECORD AS SAYING I HAVE NEVER VOTED IN FAVOR OF A VOUCHER.

I'VE NEVER SPONSORED A VOUCHER BILL.

MY WORK THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO STAND UP ON BEHALF OF PARENTS IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ENSURING THAT ALL OF US HAVE OPTIONS THAT MEET THE BEST NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN.

>> KRISTAL DIXON?

THIS IS FOR MISS HITCHENS.

YOU WANT TO INCORPORATE JUSTICE FOR STUDENTS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN BY THIS AND HOW DO YOU THINK THIS WOULD IMPROVE RATES IN SCHOOLS?

>> THANK YOU.

ONE THING I DO AS AN ATTORNEY IS REPRESENT STUDENTS IN SCHOOL DISCIPLINE CASES AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE PUNITIVE SYSTEM WE USE IN GEORGIA WHICH IS BASICALLY WE KICK PEOPLE OUT SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN THEY HAVEN'T ACTUALLY DONE ANYTHING WRONG, WE KICK CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL.

WE DENY THEM EDUCATION AS A PUNISHMENT.

I'VE NOTICED THAT THAT NOT ONLY DOESN'T WORK BUT HASN'T WORKED FOR THE DECADES WE'VE BEEN DOING IT AND IN FACT ONLY INCREASES VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, INCREASES THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE, ENHANCES THAT PIPELINE INSTEAD OF TRYING TO GET RID OF IT, WHICH IS WHAT WE SHOULD ALL BE AIMING FOR.

JUSTICE IS A NEW FRAMEWORK, ANOTHER FRAMEWORK WE HAVEN'T USED IN GEORGIA SO IT WOULD BE NEW TO GEORGIA THAT WE LOOK AT EVERY CHILD AS A VALUABLE CHILD, EVERY CHILD IS A CHILD DESERVING OF LOVE AND FORGIVENESS AND INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE ENTIRETY OF THE DAY AND PART OF THAT IS NOT JUST LOOKING AT A PUNITIVE PUNISHMENT BUT CONSIDERING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ACTUALLY MAKE A SITUATION BETTER, AND TO MAKE EVERYBODY BETTER IN THAT SITUATION, THE VICTIM AND THE PERSON WHO HAS COMMITTED SOMETHING AGAINST THAT PERSON.

SO IT'S ABOUT THE WHOLE MOVEMENT BASICALLY.

IT WOULDN'T BE JUST A PRACTICE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TY, YOUR NEXT QUESTION?

>> MR. MR ROW, YOU MENTIONED DISCIPLINE, TOO, IN YOUR OPENING QUESTION AND I'M WONDERING IF THERE REALLY IS A GROWING PROBLEM IN YOUR SCHOOLS.

ARE YOU SEEING MORE STUDENT VIOLENCE AND MISBEHAVIOR?

I ASK THIS BECAUSE SUPERINTENDENTS FROM AROUND METRO ATLANTA RECENTLY CONVENED AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION TO TALK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU'RE SEEING IT, A, AND B, WHAT WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO DO ABOUT IT?

>> YES, I AM SEEING IT.

YOU HAVE STUDENTS THAT WALK THE HALL AND SKIP EVERY CLASS ON A DAILY BASIS.

YOU HAVE STUDENTS OVER 150 ABSENCES AND 75 TARDIES AND STILL ALLOWED TO GRADUATE SO YES, THERE'S A MAJOR DISCIPLINE PROBLEM.

STUDENTS SELL DRUGS, POP PILLS, BASICALLY SCHOOL IS NOT A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ANYMORE.

IT'S BASICALLY TURNING INTO A PARTY PLACE, A SOCIAL PLACE.

A LOT OF TIMES STUDENTS CONTINUE TO KEEP THEIR PHONES IN THEIR HANDS OR KEEP EARBUDS IN THEIR EAR AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IRRITATES ME THE MOST IS WHEN A PARENT CALLS THEIR CHILD IN CLASS AND THE KIDS SAY IT'S MY MAMA, CAN I ANSWER THE PHONE?

NO.

TEXT HER BACK AND TELL HER YOU'RE IN CLASS.

PARENTS NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE MORE SO ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S ACTIONS AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD TRY TO DO IS IF A CHILD IS SUSPENDED, THEY WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO COME BACK TO SCHOOL UNTIL THEIR PARENTS SHADOWED THEM AROUND FOR A DAY OR TWO IN EACH CLASS, EAT LUNCH AND WALK THE HALLS.

AS PARENTS THEY ARE MORE ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY HAVE TO MISS WORK OR OFF DAY TO SIT WITH THEIR CHILD THEY'D TURN UP THE DISCIPLINE ON THEIR CHILDREN.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

>> KRISTAL IN YOUR NEXT QUESTION.

>> WHAT IF PARENTS ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE TIME OFF WORK AND SHADOW THEIR CHILD FOR THAT ONE DAY?

THEY MAY BE UNDER A SITUATION WHERE THEY CAN'T TAKE A DAY OFF WORK LIKE THAT?

WHAT OTHER PROPOSALS WOULD YOU SUGGEST THAT COULD, WOULDN'T PUT A PARENT IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, SOME PARENTS MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE WORK OFF?

>> IF THEY CAN'T TAKE OFF, POSSIBLY HAVE A ZOOM CONFERENCE SO THEY COULD JOIN THE CLASS THROUGH ZOOM.

I TEACH VIRTUAL.

WHEN I WAS TEACHING AP UNITED STATES HISTORY I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR 38 STUDENTS IN THE CLASS AND I HAD LIKE 12 THAT WAS VIRTUAL AND SOMETIMES I WOULD FORGET ABOUT THE VIRTUAL STUDENTS ONCE I STARTED TEACHING THE UNITED STATES HISTORY, SO IF A PARENT CAN'T COME UP TO THE SCHOOL, WE'D ARRANGE SOMETHING VIRTUALLY.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

>> TY, YOUR NEXT QUESTION?

>> DR. HOWARD, THE GOVERNOR JUST RECENTLY SIGNED THE DIVISIVE CONCEPTS LEGISLATION THAT KRISTAL MENTIONED, IT PROHIBITS TEACHERS FROM TALKING ABOUT NINE DIFFERENT "DIVISIVE CONCEPTS."

IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE STATE TO SORT OF DEFINE THAT AND ENFORCEMENT.

I'M WONDERING HOW YOU WOULD DO THAT AS SUPERINTENDENT.

>> AS SUPERINTENDENT, WE DO HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULE OF LAW, BUT EACH LAW IS UP TO INTERPRETATION.

WE HAVE SEEN LAWS ON THE BOOKS WHERE SOME LEADERS HAVE A CASUAL APPROACH, AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE VERY EAGER TO PUT OUR TEACHERS IN A BAD SPOT TO BE LAW-BREAKERS.

SO YES, WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, AND I'M NO STRANGER TO THAT, WORKING IN COBB COUNTY.

SO WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TALK ABOUT HISTORY, WE TALK ABOUT A FULL CONTEXT, WITHOUT MAKING SURE THAT OUR EDUCATORS ARE NERVOUS ABOUT BEING LAW BREAKERS BECAUSE OF THE LAW OF THE LAND, AND USE A LOT OF THAT ENERGY TO FOCUS BACK ON WHAT'S IMPORTANT, LITERACY, LEARNING HOW TO READ, SO THAT OUR KIDS CAN READ TO LEARN.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND I LOOK FORWARD TO USING OUR LEADERSHIP, OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND OUR ADVOCACY ENGAGING THE PUBLIC TO DO THIS IN A REAL WAY.

>> KRISTAL, YOUR NEXT QUESTION?

>> MISS SEARCY THIS QUESTION GOES TO YOU.

A VIDEO MADE BY HIGH SCHOOL DE KALB COUNTY SHOW INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS AND PROMPTED A VISIT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU COULD DO AS SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT TO HELP DISTRICTS REBUILD OR UPGRADE AGING FACILITIES?

>> FIRST OF ALL, RELATIONSHIPS MATTER, AND AS STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, I CURRENTLY HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE AND I WOULD LEVERAGE THESE RELATIONSHIPS TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO DO AS STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AS WELL AS START AN OFFICE OF EQUITY.

WE'RE LOOKING AT DE KALB COUNTY SCHOOLS, COBB COUNTY SCHOOLS, WARREN COUNTY, ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE TO ENSURE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION BUT ALSO BUILDINGS THAT WORK AND THAT FUNCTION.

THE VIDEO THAT WE SAW FROM STUDENTS IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND ANY CHILD IN THIS STAGE WHO IS ATTENDING A SCHOOL IN THOSE CONDITIONS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE, THOUGH, IS THAT, LIKE DE KALB COUNTY AND OTHER COUNTIES RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM C.A.R.E.S.

ACT AND OTHER FUNDS, WHY THOSE DOLLARS AREN'T GOING TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

WE HAVE TO ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS AND IT WOULD BE MY JOB AS STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT TO WORK WITH DISTRICTS AND ENSURE THEY'RE USING THOSE RESOURCES TO BENEFIT ALL OF YOUR STUDENTS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TY, YOUR NEXT QUESTION?

>> DR. HOWARD, YOU MENTIONED LITERACY AND THAT'S ACTUALLY A BIG ISSUE FOR THE STATE, ONLY ABOUT A THIRD OF KIDS ARE READING PROFICIENCY BY THIRD GRADE AT WHICH POINT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO READ TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL.

I'M WONDERING WHAT AS COBB COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER YOU WERE ABLE TO DO FOR THE LITERACY RATES IN COBB COUNTY AND WHAT YOU WOULD DO ABOUT THAT PROBLEM AT THE STATE LEVEL?

>> SURE ON THE COBB COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH MY FELLOW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT LITERACY IS A PRIORITY AND ENGAGE OUR SUPERINTENDENT IN CHARGE OF OPERATIONS TO DO HIS JOB WELL.

WE HAVE DONE SOME THINGS VERY WELL BUT ALSO A LOT OF ROOM FOR GROWTH AND THAT'S THE EXPERIENCE THAT I BRING STATEWIDE.

THERE ARE SOME STRATEGIES.

WE HAVE KIDS THAT LEARN VERY DIFFERENTLY.

WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE AN APPROACH THAT WE CAN GO STATEWIDE AND MAKE SURE WE AMPLIFY THAT MESSAGE OF A BIRTH TO THIRD GRADE APPROACH, RECOGNIZING THINGS LIKE DYSLEXIA AND ENGAGING COMMUNITIES, USING THE SCIENCE OF READING METHODOLOGY TO REALLY TRANSFORM READING.

WE'VE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS IN OTHER NEIGHBORING STATES, BUT GEORGIA HAS BEEN BEHIND.

SO WHEN I AM IN A DEBATE WITH RICHARD WOODS, HE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH OF A RECORD TO STAND ON.

RIGHT NOW, WE TOUT GEORGIA IS THE NUMBER ONE PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE CANNOT SAY THAT GEORGIA IS THE NUMBER ONE PLACE TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN AND WE HAVE TO START THAT WITH EARLY LITERACY AND DO IT COLLABORATIVELY WITH NON-PROFITS, OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND DO IT AS A TEAM TOGETHER.

>> KRISTAL YOUR NEXT QUESTION?

>> I WANTED TO FOLLOW MR. MORROW.

YOU MENTIONED I GUESS YOUR NUMBER 90,000 VACANT TEACHER CLOTS AROUND GEORGIA.

YOU MENTIONED YOU WOULD RECRUIT QUALITY TEACHERS.

CAN YOU GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT MORE EXAMPLE AS TO WHAT YOU WOULD DO AS A SUPERINTENDENT SCHOOL THAT YOU WOULD TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF QUALITY TEACHERS THERE ARE IN GEORGIA?

>> FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT MORE APPEALING AND MORE ENTICING FOR YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENTS TO WANT TO MAJOR IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION.

RIGHT NOW, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU IF I WAS A FIRST OR SECOND YEAR TEACHER I'D PROBABLY LOOK FOR ANOTHER PROFESSION BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL TEACHERS ARE SUPPORTED BY ADMINISTRATORS AND I FEEL THEY'RE CONSTANTLY DISRESPECTED.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD TRY TO DO IS MAYBE A TEACHER NEXT DOOR PROGRAM WHERE TEACHERS COULD POSSIBLY GET A DISCOUNT ON A HOUSE.

HOUSING IS EXPENSIVE.

FIRST YEAR TEACHERS SALARY IS AROUND $2,400 A MONTH.

THEIR RENT IS $2,000 A MONTH WHICH LEAVES THEM WITH $400 LEFT SO MOST YOUNG TEACHERS ARE STILL LIVING AT HOME WITH THEIR PARENTS.

WE HAVE TO MAKE IT MORE APPEALING WHERE TEACHERS CAN MAKE ENOUGH MONEY SO SUSTAIN AND MAINTAIN THEIR LIFESTYLE WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE ON A SECOND JOB.

MANY OF MY FRIENDS HAVE SECOND AND THIRD JOBS IN ORDER TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

>> TY, YOUR NEXT QUESTION?

>> THIS IS QUESTION FOR MISS SEARCY.

THERE'S MUCH ABOUT THE PANDEMIC WE'D LIKE TO FORGET.

I'M WONDERING IF YOU THINK WE LEARNED ANYTHING ABOUT EDUCATION FROM THE PANDEMIC THAT WE SHOULD KEEP AND INCORPORATE GOING FORWARD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I RAN FOR STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT IS BECAUSE I WAS FRUSTRATED AS A PARENT AND AS AN EDUCATOR TO NOTICE THAT OUR TEACHERS WERE ILL-EQUIPPED TO HANDLE VIRTUAL TEACHING.

IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT.

IT'S THE FAULT OF THE DISTRICTS AND THE STATE.

WE DID NOT ADEQUATELY PREPARE THEM SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OUR STUDENTS?

SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GO BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC EDUCATION AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE THAT WE CAN MAKE.

I THINK IT'S TIME FOR TO US REIMAGINE WHAT PUBLIC ED DAGS EDUCATION LOOKS LIKE IN OUR STATE.

WE ARE STILL PROVIDING A TELEGRAM EDUCATION TO A TIKTOK GENERATION.

NOW IT'S TIME TO REIMAGINE.

WE LEARNED TESTING DOESN'T REALLY MATTER AS MUCH AS WE THOUGHT IT DID.

WE LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY AND HOW WE COULD CONNECT STUDENTS TO THE WORLD.

WE LEARNED THAT WE COULD DO A LOT MORE USING TECHNOLOGY AND LEVERAGING THOSE PLATFORMS, SO NOW IS THE TIME FOR REAL LEADERSHIP IN OUR STATE TO HAVE A STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT THAT HAS A VISION, WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW TO GRAPPLE WITH CHALLENGES AND TURN THOSE INTO STUDENTS AND THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING FOR STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

>> ALL RIGHT, KRISTAL, YOUR NEXT QUESTION?

>> DR. JAHA, THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

SOME STUDENTS MAY NOT WANT TO ATTEND A INTEREST TRADITIONAL FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE.

CAREER TECHNOLOGIES OPPORTUNITIES IN DISTRICTS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT AVAILABLE?

>> WE LEARNED IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THE PUBLIC IS CRYING OUT SAYING WE NEED CAREER OPTIONS.

WE HAVE AREAS WHERE FOLKS ARE DOING IT RIGHT, I'M PROUD TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT OSBOURNE HIGH SCHOOL AND ATTACHED TO OSBORNE HIGH SCHOOL IS OUR CAREER ACADEMY AND I GOT A CHANCE TO TOUR SEVERAL TIMES AND I FELL IN LOVE.

AS MY FATHER DOES CONSTRUCTION, BEFORE HIS STROKE, THIS IS HOW I SPENT MY SUMMERS AND MY SCHOOL BREAKS, AND KNOWING THAT THERE'S A CONSTRUCTION PATHWAY AND KIDS CAN COME OUT WITH CERTIFICATION AND CHOOSE TO GO TO COLLEGE IF THEY CHOOSE, THAT'S AMAZING.

I.T.

PATHWAYS, THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE EXISTING AND NOW WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT CAN WORK COLLABORATIVELY, TALK ABOUT BEST PRACTICES, SHARE IDEAS, AND IN EDUCATION, WE LOVE OUR SILOS, WE LOVE PUTTING OUR HEAD DOWN WORKING IN OUR SPECIFIC SPACE.

IT'S TIME TO SHARE IDEAS AND THAT TAKES A LEADER WHO CAN WORK ACROSS THE AISLE, A LEADER WHO CAN WORK CROSS COMMUNITIES AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TY, YOUR NEXT QUESTION?

>> QUESTION FOR SEARCY AGAIN.

FOLLOWING UP, YOU SAID WE LEARNED DURING THE PANDEMIC MAYBE WE DIDN'T NEED TESTING AS MUCH AS WE THOUGHT WE DID.

WITHOUT TESTING, HOW WOULD WE HOLD SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE OR DO YOU BELIEVE WE NEED TO HOLD PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT ARE RECEIVING TAX CREDIT MONEY OR CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

SHOULD WE BE TESTING THEM TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE OR IS THERE SOME OTHER WAY WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT?

>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE TESTING IS IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE TO ASSESS WHERE STUDENTS ARE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THIS TWO-YEAR GAP THAT WE'VE HAD IN HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION.

SO ASSESSMENTS ARE IMPORTANT.

THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS THE HIGH-STAKES TESTING AND WHAT IT DOES TO EDUCATORS, WHAT IT DOES TO STUDENTS.

MY NINTH GRADER THIS WEEK HAS BEEN STRESSED OUT EVERY SINGLE COURSE TESTS.

THAT IS NOT WHAT EDUCATION IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT TESTING IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.

I WANT TO ASSESS STUDENTS SO WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE, WE CAN FIND OUT THEIR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AND FOCUS ON THE WEAKNESSES TO GET THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TEACHERS NEED SO WE CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT.

THE PURPOSE OF TESTING IS NOT TO STRESS TEACHERS OUT, TO STRESS STUDENTS OUT, BUT THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH HIGH-STAKES TEST SOMETHING WE DON'T USE IT TO BENEFIT STUDENTS OR EDUCATORS.

IT'S JUST STRESSING US OUT AND THAT'S NOT THE GOAL OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND SO I WANT TO USE ASSESSMENTS IN A WAY THAT IS MEANINGFUL, THAT PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS, PROVIDES SUPPORTS FOR EDUCATORS, AND AGAIN, STRENGTHENS OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WILL HEAD BACK TO OUR PANELISTS IN JUST A SECOND.

I WANTED TO THROW OUT A QUESTION FOR ALL FOUR CANDIDATES AND WE'LL GO LEFT TO RIGHT HERE.

WHEN WE SEE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, BIG TECH COMPANIES MOVE TO ATLANTA AND MOVE TO GEORGIA, AND SET UP OFFICES HERE, THEY OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE SKILLED WORKFORCE.

WHAT CAN BE DONE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE STATE TO BEST PREPARE STUDENTS IN GEORGIA TO TAKE THOSE HIGH-TECH JOBS?

WE'LL START WITH YOU, MISS HITCHENS.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU'RE DEFINITELY RIGHT, WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT BUSINESS COMING TO OUR STATE AND WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR THE WORLD OR COLLEGE, WHICHEVER ONE THEY WANT TO GO INTO FIRST AND THE TECH JOBS ARE GREAT TO TAKE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE OF GEORGIA ARE GETTING AN EDUCATION THAT IS HIGH QUALITY ALL ALONG AND THEY ALSO THEN GET TO CHOOSE WHAT KIND OF THINGS THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN, IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN WORKING IN THE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN APPRENTICESHIP THROUGH A UNION WOULD MAKE IT AMAZING, APPRENTICESHIPS IN DIFFERENT SKILLED AREAS AND BE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT THOSE FIELDS SO THEY CAN LEARN IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN COMPUTER PROGRAMMING OR MAKING ELECTRIC VEHICLES OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, BECAUSE THOSE ARE ALL PROGRAMS THAT SHOULD BE WITHIN SCHOOLS.

SOME SCHOOLS HAVE THOSE PROGRAMS.

THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE ENOUGH IN ALL AREAS ACROSS THE STATE SO I WANT TO MAKE THOSE PROGRAMS MORE THAN AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS TO GET A REGULAR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA BUT ADDITIONALLY CAN GET THE SKILLS THEY'RE READY TO WORK IN THE HIGH-PAID JOBS THAT ARE COMING TO GEORGIA.

>> DR. HOWARD, 60 SECONDS?

>> I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.

WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT PIPELINES, RIGHT?

WE HAVE AGAIN GEORGIA THE NUMBER ONE PLACE TO DO BUSINESS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, TECH COMPANIES ARE COMING OUR WAY BUT NOTICE RICHARD WOODS IS MISSING FROM THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPING A PIPELINE FROM OUR GRADE SCHOOLCHILDREN ALL THE WAY INTO THE WORKFORCE.

WE CAN DO THAT, BUT THE ISSUE IS, WE HAVE A LEADER WHO DOES NOT LISTEN.

I'VE TALKED TO SUPERINTENDENTS FROM SMALL DISTRICTS AND LARGE DISTRICTS.

OVERWHELMINGLY, I HAVE' HAD TWO OR THREE CONVERSATIONS WITH RICHARD WOODS AND I WAS FLOORED.

WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET FROM SOMEONE LIKE ME, I'M SMART ENOUGH TO LISTEN AND REALIZE I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING.

DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.

REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, BUT TOGETHER WE DO AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF LEADERSHIP THAT WORKS COLLABORATIVELY.

WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE DEVELOP THE FUTURE WORKFORCE FOR TECHNOLOGY BUT EVERY OTHER SECTOR.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

>> MR. MORROW?

>> THANK YOU.

EVERYTHING THAT ALL OF US ARE GOING TO SAY IS GOING TO SOUND GOOD BUT WE GOT TO FACE REALITY.

WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT AGREE WHEN I WAS TEACHING THE AP UNITED STATES HISTORY COURSE AND AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY COURSE STUDENTS HAVE A 500, 600 LEXILE SCORE, READING AT A FIFTH OR SIXTH GRADE READING LEVEL.

HARD TO TEACH COMPUTER PROGRAMS WHEN STUDENTS CAN'T FEEL.

DR. HOWARD SAID THE LITERACY RATE, WHEN KIDS CAN READ THEY CAN FILL OUT APPLICATIONS AND ACQUIRE JOBS AND ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT THE LITERACY RATE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AND THEN I GO BACK TO DISCIPLINE.

WITHOUT DISCIPLINE THERE'S NO SUCCESS IN ANYTHING WE DO FOR THE STUDENTS.

I'D LAKE TO SEE SOME TYPE OF CERTIFICATION OR CERTIFICATE ONCE A KID GRADUATES AND THEY'RE CERTIFIED TO DO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING WHERE THEY DON'T ARE TO GO TO A VOCATIONAL SCHOOL OR TRADITIONAL FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.

FIRST WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON TEACHING THE KIDS TO READ IN ORDER TO DO THE THINGS WE WANT THEM TO DO.

>> MISS SEARCY?

>> I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF GREAT THINGS IN OUR STATE.

SOME OF OUR LABOR UNIONS HAVE PARTNERED WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS CREATING APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.

STUDENTS ARE EARNING WHILE THEY LEARN.

THEY HAVE THE CERTIFICATE TO GO INTO A JOB AND GET GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, MAKING $40,000, $50,000, $60,000 A YEAR.

THIS GOES BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER.

WE ARE PROVIDING CURRENTLY A TELEGRAM EDUCATION TO A TIKTOK GENERATION.

WE HAVE TO REIMAGINE WHO PUBLIC EDUCATION LOOKS LIKE.

WE HAVE TO MODEL SOME OF THE THINGS WE ALREADY KNOW ARE WORKING THAT OUR LABOR UNIONS ARE DOING AND RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE DOING TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS.

THIS IS THE TIME TO HAVE A STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT WHO HAS PARTNERSHIPS, WHO HAS A VISION, WHO CAN LEVERAGE THESE KINDS OF PARTNERSHIPS AND BEST PRACTICES THAT ARE ALREADY HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'LL SEND IT BACK OVER TO KRISTAL DIXON FOR YOUR NEXT QUESTION.

>> MR. MORROW, YOU MENTIONED BOOSTING LITERACY RATES.

WHAT SPECIFIC PLANS WOULD YOU PUT IN PLACE AS SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL?

>> WELL, CURRENTLY THERE'S ALREADY PLANS IN PLACE WHERE WE HAVE LIKE TUTORING AT THE SCHOOLS, SATURDAY SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS BUT MANY TIMES THE STUDENTS DON'T SHOW UP, AND THAT'S MAINLY BECAUSE THE PARENTS DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO BRING THEIR CHILD TO THE SCHOOL OR PICK THEM UP.

IN ORDER FOR US TO INCREASE AND BOOST THE LITERACY RATE WE HAVE TO HAVE STUDENTS PRESENT AND SHOW UP FOR THE EXTRA TUTORING THEY RECEIVE FROM THE TEACHERS.

WHEN I WAS TEACHING ECONOMICS, WE HAD TUTORING FOR STUDENTS HAVING A HARD TIME BECAUSE ECONOMICS IS A 12th GRADE CLASS AND MANY OF THE STUDENTS WERE IN DANGER OF FAILING.

MY PRINCIPAL ASKED ME TO DO TUTORING FOR THAT CLASS AND AT THAT TIME I PROBABLY HAD ABOUT SEVEN STUDENTS SHOW UP OUT OF ABOUT 130 THAT WAS TAKING THE CLASS, SO HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO GET THE KIDS TO COME OR MAYBE EVEN PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION WHERE THE BUSES GO AROUND AND PICK THEM UP AND DROP THEM OFF AT HOME.

THEN WE HAVE TO PAY BUS DRIVERS EXTRA MONEY FOR THAT.

>> SORRY FOR THE FOLLOW-UP.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU THINK THE STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD HELP THE DISTRICT WITH?

>> YES, I DO.

I BELIEVE THAT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND FUNDS TO HELP ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT NEED IT ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL AREAS TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR THE STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL ON SATURDAY SCHOOL AND AFTERSCHOOL.

>> TY TAGAMI DR. HOWARD, YOU MENTIONED PARENT ENGAGEMENT IN COBB COUNTY BEING ONE EVER YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

THE LEGISLATURE PASSED SEVERAL BILLS THIS SESSION AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THAT REPORTED THEY SAID WERE DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING CLARIFYING RIGHTS TO ATTEND SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, TRANSPARENCY WITH CURRICULUM, THE DIVISIVE CONCEPTS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, STREAMLINING THE PROCESS FOR BANNING BOOKS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THEIR APPROACH TO ENCOURAGING PARENT ENGAGEMENT?

>> SURE, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, TY.

I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY THE CHALLENGE.

IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEONE WHO PUTS CHILDREN FIRST AND OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION IS MY ONLY SPECIAL INTEREST AND A WELL-FUNDED, ORCHESTRATED MACHINE THAT PUTS POLITICS SPECIAL INTEREST IN PARTICULAR PARTIES TO BE THE SPECIAL INTEREST.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

SO WE HAVE AN ANGRY MOB OF PARENTS COMING, SHOUTING FOLKS DOWN.

THAT'S NOT LISTENING.

THAT'S NOT MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD.

THAT'S NOT DEMOCRACY.

THAT'S NOT PROMOTING FREEDOM.

WHAT WE'VE DONE IN COBB COUNTY, WE HAVE PARENTS THAT ARE ENGAGED, THAT ARE LISTENING, THAT ARE ADVOCATING FOR THEIR SCHOOLS, NOT ONLY IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD BUT FOR SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE COUNTY.

WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS ENGAGEMENT FROM OUR EDUCATORS.

I CAN WALK INTO ALMOST ANY SCHOOL AND YOU GET THAT LOOK WHERE THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, WE APPRECIATE THAT, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS ADVOCATING FOR THEM.

THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT ACROSS THE STATE.

IT TAKES PEOPLE POWER, PEOPLE POWER, NOT JUST ONE HERO, NOT JUST A DEMANDING ONE WAY TO DO IT BUT DOING IT TOGETHER.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

FOLLOW-UP QUESTION, TY?

>> YES, CAN YOU TELL US SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOU DID IN COULD BE TO ENCOURAGE THE BEHAVIOR?

>> WHEN I AM A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, WORKING IN A OFFICE AS A PEDIATRIC DENTIST.

WE DID SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN MOST PEDIATRIC DENTISTS DO.

ALMOST EVERY WEEK I SPENT AN HOUR OF MY DAY VOLUNTEERING AT A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.

NOT JUST TO READ A BOOK, WHICH IS GREAT, WE NEED TO DO THAT ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT I WAS THERE ALMOST EVERY WEEK TO LET THOSE KIDS KNOW THAT SOMEBODY IN THE COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THEM.

AND THEN THAT SPREAD.

THEY STARTED TELLING THEIR FAMILIES AND TELLING THEIR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, WOW, THIS IS HOW ENGAGEMENT LOOKS.

THEN WE ORGANIZED PARENTS IN THE SMYRNA AREA IN A GROUP CALLED WAVE OF EXCELLENCE.

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF PARENTS ENSURING WE HAVE EXCELLENCE IN OUR SCHOOL AND NOT JUST LOOKING AT GREATSCHOOLS.COM BUT LITERALLY ENGAGING AND BEING A PART OF THE SOLUTION.

>> THANKS, DR. HOWARD.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> KRISTAL, IN YOUR NEXT QUESTION?

>> THIS QUESTION IS FOR MISS HITCHENS.

I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

GOVERNOR KEMP SIGNED LEGISLATION ALLOWING PARENTS TO OPT OUT OF SCHOOL MASK MANDATES.

SHOULD PARENTS OR DISTRICTS WITH THE ADVICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES DETERMINE IF STUDENTS SHOULD WEAR MASKS DURING ANY SORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS?

>> I THINK THE LOCAL DISTRICTS SHOULD BE DECIDING THAT AND EVEN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS BUT I WANT THE SCHOOLS AND THE PARENTS AND THE FAMILIES TO CARE ENOUGH ABOUT PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WHO CAN'T BE VACCINATED AND VULNERABLE THAT THEY WILLINGLY WEAR A MASK.

THAT WOULD BE THE DREAM FOR ME I GUESS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO SUFFERED.

PEOPLE DIED IN GEORGIA.

I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME BUT WAY MORE THAN NEEDED TO DIE AND IT'S PROVEN PEOPLE WEARING MASKS IN SCHOOLS SAVED SO MANY LIVES.

IF THAT WILL SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE, WHY NOT WEAR A MASK?

WE NEED TO BE MORE CAREFUL, MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED, MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE IN SCHOOLS WEAR A MASK.

IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING TO MAKE SURE WE CONTROL PUBLIC HEALTH, THIS IS ONE THING WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO.

I DO THINK IT IS A STRUGGLE AND SOME FOLKS WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S THEIR RIGHT NOT TO WEAR A MASK, I UNDERSTAND THAT, I GUESS, IN A WAY, BUT IT'S NOT YOUR RIGHT TO POSSIBLY KILL SOMEONE ELSE SO THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY.

DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU A RIGHT TO GIVE SOMEONE A DISEASE THAT COULD KILL THEM?

YOU DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT.

>> TY, YOUR NEXT QUESTION?

>> I'D LIKE TO ASK ALL FOUR STARTING WITH MISS SEARCY.

THERE'S BEEN TALK FOR YEARS ABOUT REDOING THE STATE'S FUNDING FORMULA, AND MONEY BEING ESSENTIAL TO A LARGE OPERATION, LIKE EDUCATION, WE ARE USING THE SAME FORMULA SINCE THE MID 1980s.

IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES WOULD BE?

>> LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THAT QUESTION.

AGAIN AS A FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR WHO SERVED ON THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND ALSO SERVED ON THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, FUNDING EDUCATION IS CRITICAL FOR MY AGENDA AND BEING A FORMER SUPERINTENDENT WHOA LOOKED AT ALLOTMENT SHEETS AND DETERMINED WHICH OF THE 19 SEGMENTS WE HAD IN OUR SCHOOLS TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT FUNDING.

I BELIEVE WE NEED TO REVAMP OUR FUNDING SYSTEM FOR EDUCATION, QBE WAS DONE IN THE '80s AND IT'S TIME TO REIMAGINE FUNDING AS WELL.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US FOCUS MORE ON STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS.

I'D LIKE TO SEE US FUND MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN POVERTY, THAT COULD BE IN ATLANTA.

THAT COULD BE SOMEWHERE IN SOUTH GEORGIA, AND SO WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A FUNDING SYSTEM THAT FOCUSES ON STUDENTS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS AND THEIR NEEDS VERSUS A FORMULA VERSUS DISTRICTS AND ADULTS.

WE OFTEN HAVE AN EDUCATION, WHETHER IT'S POLICY OR FUNDING, WE DO THINGS THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ADULTS.

I'M INTERESTED IN FUNDING SCHOOLS AND FUNDING CHILDREN BASED ON THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THE QUESTION TO YOU, MR. MORROW.

>> AS SHE STATED, QBE HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 19831983, 1984.

I WAS 4 YEARS OLD.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND IT NEEDS TO CHANGE WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING.

WITHOUT FUNDING, THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO FOR THE SCHOOLS.

EVERY TIME THE WIND BLOWS THEY CUT MONEY FOR EDUCATION.

EVEN AT MY SCHOOL CURRENTLY WE HAVE OVER 400 STUDENTS THAT RECEIVE SPECIAL PERMISSION TO ATTEND THE SCHOOLS I TEACH HERE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS FEEL LIKE IT'S A BETTER SCHOOL AND WHEN STUDENTS COME FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT MONEY COMES TO THE SCHOOL SO A LOT OF TIMES WHEN SCHOOLS ALLOW STUDENTS TO ATTEND SCHOOLS, THAT DON'T LIVE IN THE DISTRICT IT'S MAINLY BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO BRING IN MORE INCOME AND FUNDS TO THE SCHOOL.

THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, DR. HOWARD, YOUR TURN?

>> AGREED WE HAVE A 1980s FUNDING FORMULA.

WE'VE HAD SOME HALF ATTEMPTS FROM LEADERSHIP IN THE PAST TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

WE CAN BUILD ON SOME OF THOSE IDEAS THAT HAVE COME FROM PREVIOUS PANELS, BUT LITERACY, LITERACY, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE READING, AND WE DON'T NEED TO WAIT UNTIL OUR CHILDREN ARE SHOWING UP IN KINDERGARTEN.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BIRTH TO THIRD GRADE APPROACH WITH COLLABORATION, WORKING ACROSS THE BOARD, WORKING WITH OUR PEDIATRICIANS, WORKING WITH OUR NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, USING THE SCIENCE OF READING AS A METHODOLOGY.

THERE'S SOME GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN FULTON COUNTY THAT I LOVE AND THROUGH THAT TRAINING, THEY'RE ALSO TRAINING OTHER PEOPLE TO BE TRAINERS SO IT'S A MODEL THAT CAN EXPAND AND TOO OFTEN WE TALK ABOUT A PROBLEM BUT WE DON'T GIVE ITS DUE ON THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM.

WE HAVE TOO MANY LEADERS THAT ARE BOX CHECKING SAYING I DID THIS, I DID THIS, I DID THAT, BUT THEY'RE NOT BEING HONEST ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THEIR SOLUTIONS.

THE SCOPE OF OUR SOLUTIONS HAVE TO MATCH THE SCOPE OF OUR PROBLEM AND WE NEED LASER FOCUS ON EARLY LITERACY.

THANK YOU.

>> MISS HITCHENS?

>> THANK YOU.

I'D REDO OUR SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA TO FOCUS ON EQUITY BECAUSE THE FUNDING FORMULA COMES MOSTLY FROM TAXING PROPERTY IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES SO THAT MEANS THAT RICHER COMMUNITIES HAVE BETTER SCHOOLS, HAVE MORE MONEY, AND LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES HAVE WORSE SCHOOLS IN GENERAL AND THAT IS NOT OKAY.

WE NEED TO MAKE IT MORE EQUITABLE BECAUSE OFTEN KIDS ARE IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES NEED MORE FUNDING FOR THEIR SCHOOLS TO BRING THEM UP TO EQUAL FOR OTHER KIDS AND THAT'S JUST WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE DATA, LOOK AT RESEARCH AND DO THE BEST FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, MAKE ALL GEORGIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT SCHOOLS AND WE CAN DO THAT.

WE HAVE THE FUNDING.

WE HAD A BUDGET SURPLUS.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF MONEY FOR EDUCATION, HAVEN'T ALWAYS PUT IT THERE.

WE CAN DO THAT.

WE HAVE TO SPEND OUR MONEY ON IT AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY OUR SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA NEEDS TO BE CHANGED QUICKLY BECAUSE ONE REASON WE HAVE THE FUNDING PROBLEM WE HAVE IS BECAUSE IT IS TO TRY TO MAINTAIN WHITE SUPREMACY AND WE NEED TO FIGHT AS MUCH AS WE CAN AGAINST THAT AND MAKE OUR STATE ANTI-RACIST.

>> KRISTAL, IN YOUR NEXT QUESTION?

>> THE COVID-19 -- THIS IS A QUESTION FOR EVERYONE IF THAT'S OKAY.

>> YES.

>> THE COVID-19 AND THE PIVOT TO VIRTUAL LEARNING EXPOSED INEQUITIES FAMILIES FACE WITH ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO LESSEN THAT GAP?

>> MISS HITCHNESS?

>> THANK YOU.

CLEARLY WE NEED TO EXPAND BROADBAND AND MAKE SURE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY WHEN THEY NEED IT BUT ALSO I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER MORE LOW-TECH WAY.

WE CAN DO THINGS OUTDOORS SOMETIMES WHEN WE CAN'T DO THINGS IN PERSON DURING A PANDEMIC, BECAUSE IT TURNS OUT AND WE KNOW THIS FROM THE DATA THAT TECHNOLOGY DIDN'T SOLVE ANYTHING.

WE STILL HAD A BIG LEARNING GAP ESPECIALLY THE KIDS WHO ARE LOW INCOME AND HAD DISABILITIES FELL EVEN MORE BEHIND AND THEY WERE ALREADY BEHIND.

SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT GAP AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND A LOT OF THAT NEEDS TO BE IN PERSON AND IF WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER PANDEMIC, I KNOW IT HASN'T QUITE ENDED, IF WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEW PANDEMIC, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO DO THINGS IN PERSON, WE HAVE SMALLER CLASSES FOR THEM, CLASSES OUTSIDE, WEARING MASKS TO PROTECT EVERYBODY IN THE COLLAPSES BUT OF COURSE WE NEED TO EXPAND BROADBAND AND MAKE SURE SCHOOLS HAVE ACCESS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, ALL HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

THAT IS A NECESSITY FOR SOME TIME.

>> DR. HOWARD?

>> THANK YOU.

COVID-19 EXPOSED OUR PROBLEMS.

THIS IS WHAT WE LOOK LIKE WITHOUT MAKEUP, THIS IS WHAT WE LOOK LIKE WITHOUT PHOTO SHOP, BUT SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ACKNOWLEDGE A HARD TRUTH, AND YOU'RE READY TO DO THE HARD WORK, THAT'S WHEN THINGS CAN REALLY CHANGE.

AS STATE SUPERINTENDENT, I LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING A VIRTUAL RESOURCE STATEWIDE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE VIDEOTAPE CLASSROOM, FROM HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS, POSSIBLY TEACHERS OF THE YEAR.

IF YOU LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BUT THERE ARE CHALLENGES AT YOUR SPECIFIC SCHOOL OR YOUR SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD OR YOUR SPECIFIC DISTRICT YOU CAN ALWAYS GO ONLINE AND LEARN SOME OF THOSE STANDARDS FROM A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATOR.

IT'S GOING TO HELP OUR TEACHERS HAVE A BACKUP.

IT'S GOING TO HELP OUR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO DO WHAT OUR COLLEAGUE HERE SAID, WORK ACROSS INDUSTRY AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE BROADBAND IN THOSE RURAL AREAS, WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

>> MR. MORROW?

>> THANK YOU.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE FUNDING FOR BASICALLY THE RURAL AREAS.

I HAVE A 7-YEAR-OLD AND ATTENDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN COBB COUNTY AND A 14-YEAR-OLD THAT ATTENDS MIDDLE SCHOOL IN COBB COUNTY.

BOTH RECEIVE LAPTOPS.

IF WE DIDN'T HAVE INTERNET ACCESS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PROVIDES A WIFI BLOCK.

EVERY STUDENT RECEIVES A LAPTOP AND ACCESS TO WIFI SO IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE KIDS IN THE METRO ATLANTA AREA, WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO GET FUNDING TO THE KIDS IN THE RURAL AREA TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE WAY THE KIDS IN THE METRO ATLANTA AREA DO.

WE ARE TWO AND A HALF YEARS BEHIND BECAUSE OF COVID.

MY SON HE'LL BE A FRESHMAN AT PEBBLEBROOK HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR.

HIS GRADES WERE LIKE MID Bs, LOW C, BECAUSE WHEN I WOULD BE DOWNSTAIRS TEACHING I'D COME UP TO HIS ROOM AND HE HAS HIS CAMERA OFF, LISTENING TO THE TEACHER, PLAYING VIDEO GAMES AND WATCHING YOUTUBE.

KIDS HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS TO DO THINGS TO HAVE BETTER GRADES BUT THEY LACK THE MOTIVATION TO GET IT DONE.

I'D LOVE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO VIRTUAL WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, MISS SEARCY?

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF COVID OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I GET REALLY UPSET, FRANKLY, ABOUT PARTICULARLY STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN RURAL AREAS WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND.

I GET REALLY FRUSTRATED WHEN I THINK ABOUT STUDENTS EVEN IN THE METRO ATLANTA AREA WHO DIDN'T HAVE WIFI AT HOME OR HAD TO SHARE A LAPTOP WITH FIVE OR SIX SIBLINGS.

IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT IN 2022 WE ARE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.

AS STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AGAIN AND THROUGH MY OFFICE OF EQUITY, THESE ARE THE ISSUES WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.

WE HAVE TO PARTNER WITH OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS.

WE HAVE TO THANK OUR U.S.

SENATORS WHO BROUGHT US FEDERAL FUNDS TO ADDRESS THE BROADBAND ISSUE BUT WE NEED MORE FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO GROW THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

I THINK ONE GREAT LESSON WE LEARNED, THOUGH, IS THAT WE CAN DO THINGS CALLED COURSE CHOICE.

WE CAN HAVE STUDENTS ACCESS ALGEBRA 2 OR TRIGONOMETRY OR PHYSICS OR SOME OF THE COURSES THAT MAY NOT BE OFFERED IN THEIR DISTRICT, ACCESS IN DISTRICTS WHERE THEY ARE TO HAVE ACCESS IN REAL TIME, BE A PART OF THAT CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE, AND AGAIN, HAVE ACCESS TO A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION REGARDLESS OF THEIR ZIP CODE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR QUESTIONS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL NOW HAVE 60 SECONDS FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

CURREY HITCHENS, YOU GET THE FIRST OF THESE CLOSING STATEMENTS.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY AND ALSO WANT TO SAY ADULT EDUCATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAPPY EDUCATORS DAY.

I KNOW YOU'LL GET LOTS OF APPRECIATION.

JUST QUICKLY I GREW UP IN GEORGIA, WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN WHITFIELD COUNTY, GEORGIA, BECAME A TEACHER AFTER GOING TO COLLEGE, TAUGHT FOR A COUPLE YEARS IN DECATUR AND THEN DECIDED TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL TO DO MORE FOR STUDENTS AND WORKED AT GEORGIA LEGAL SERVICES IN ATLANTA, ATLANTA LEGAL AID REPRESENTING STUDENTS EDUCATION CASES CURRENTLY.

I HAVE A LOT OF OPINIONS ABOUT THE ISSUES AND I WANT TO LET TEACHERS TEACH THE TRUTH, PAY THEM MORE, MAKE THEIR JOBS A BETTER JOB.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR SCHOOLS ARE IN GOOD REPAIR AND SAFE.

I WANT TO LOOK AT THE VIOLENCE ISSUE THAT IS INCREASING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST IN SCHOOLS BUT EVERYWHERE AND MAKE SURE THE KIDS GET SERVICES THEY NEED AND TEACHERS, TOO, IF THEY NEED THEM TO HELP THEM THROUGH THE ISSUES.

THEY HAVE NEEDS, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS SO THEY CAN THEN LEARN AND WE NEED TO GIVE THEM HIGH-QUALITY FREQUENT TUTORING, NOT TO ADD ON MORE TO THE DAY TO CATCH UP FOR LEARNING LOSS.

THANK YOU, CURREY HITCHENS.

>> JAMES MORROW YOUR CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> THANK YOU.

I STARTED TEACHING WHEN I WAS 22 YEARS OLD, EDUCATION IS ALL I KNOW.

I PLAYED BASKETBALL AND RAN TRACK AT UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF I MAJORED IN HISTORY WITH A MINOR IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

I COMPLETED IN 1987, AFTER WHICH I MOVED ON TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS LITTLE ROCK WHERE I COMPLETED MY MASTERS IN SECONDARY EDUCATION WITH AN EMPHASIS IN SOCIAL SCIENCE AND AT THE SAME TIME WHILE I WAS THE ASSISTANT MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH SMITH COLLEGE ROCK.

I TAUGHT IN LITTLE ROCK AND CLARK COUNTY LAS VEGAS, TAUGHT APS AND CURRENTLY SPENT THE PAST 14 YEARS CLAYTON COUNTY SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN EDUCATION AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FIXED UNTIL WE START BRINGING MORE RESPECT TO TEACHERS.

TOO MANY TIMES ADMINISTRATORS SPEND MORE TIME POLICING THE TEACHERS THAN THEY DO THE STUDENTS AND THAT'S WHY I FEEL WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE HAVING MAJOR DISCIPLINARY ISSUES IN SCHOOLS UNTIL THAT IS FIXED.

MY NAME IS JAMES MORROW.

MOTOR MORROW FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.

THANK YOU.

>> ALISHA THOMAS, YOUR CLOSING STATEMENT?

>> I'M ALISHA THOMAS SEARCY.

I SERVED AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE ELECTED TO COBB COUNTY.

I'M ALSO A GRADUATE OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS ACADEMY AND I HOLD A SUPERINTENDENT CERTIFICATE FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

I AM A FORMER SUPERINTENDENT WHO HAS LED SCHOOLS BEFORE.

I'VE HIRED PRINCIPALS.

I'VE TURNED AROUND OUR TEACHER RETENTION RATE AND TURNED AROUND SCHOOLS.

THIS RACE IS IMPORTANT.

WHAT'S NOT JUST ON THE BALLOT ARE OUR NAMES BUT THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IN OUR STATE.

WE NEED A STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT WHO IS QUALIFIED, WHO IS PASSIONATE, WHO HAS A SENSE OF URGENCY TO GET THIS DONE FOR KIDS.

I'M A MOM OF THREE, AND I AM NAVIGATING SCHOOLS JUST LIKE MANY OF YOU AND I DON'T HAVE FIVE OR TEN YEARS FOR US TO GET THIS RIGHT.

I ONLY HAVE RIGHT NOW, AND SO I ASK FOR YOU TO THINK HARD ABOUT THIS RACE, THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT ROLE IS A POLICY ROLE.

I'M THE ONLY ONE ON THIS STAGE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE AS A POLICYMAKER, A SUPERINTENDENT AND A MOM.

VOTE FOR ME FOR STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT SO THAT WE CAN REIMAGINE PUBLIC EDUCATION TOGETHER.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

AND JAHA HOWARD, YOU HAVE THE FINAL WORD.

>> IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

I DID NOT INTEND YEARS AGO TO BE ON THIS STAGE.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY WHO SAW A NEED AND I WANTED TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION.

THAT'S WHY WE ORGANIZED THOUSANDS OF PARENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EXCELLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS WHEN FOLKS WERE LEAVING FOR GREENER PASTURES THAT THEY LIKED WHERE THEY LIVED.

THAT'S WHY AS A PEDIATRIC DENTIST, WE LOVE OUR CHILDREN WITH EXCELLENCE AND COMPASSION, FOLKS WHO COME FROM OLD MONEY, NEW MONEY AND NO MONEY ALL COME IN, DIFFERENT STATES, DIFFERENT SEXUAL ETHICS, DIFFERENT GENDER IDENTIFICATION.

THAT'S WHO SHOWS UP IN OUR OFFICE AND THEY ALL WANT THE SAME THING, TO BE RESPECTED AND TO BE LOVED AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

AS A COBB COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, WE DIDN'T JUST TALK ABOUT EQUITY, BUT WE BROUGHT HOME THOSE MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR PROJECTS TO RELIEVE CROWDING, TO REDO OUR BUILDINGS AND ADD NEW FACILITIES.

THAT HAPPENED UNDER MY WATCH.

>> THAT'S YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR DEBATE.

ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, MAY 24th, AND EARLY VOTING IS UNDER WAY.

OUR THANKS TO THE CANDIDATES, AND TO OUR PANEL OF JOURNALISTS.

WE'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB FOR ARRANGING TOOLED'S DEBATE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALL OF THE DEBATES, THEY WILL HOST THIS ELECTION SEASON, VISIT ATLANTAPRESSCLUB.ORG.

I'M EMILE MOFFATT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB LOUDERMILK-YOUNG DEBATE SERIES.