>>> HELLO.

I AM THE REPORTER AND HOST IN ATLANTA.

WELCOME TO THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB DEBATE SERIES.

THIS IS A DEBATE AMONG REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

LET'S MEET THE CANDIDATES FOR THIS DEBATE.

THEY ARE JOHN BARGE, AN EDUCATOR AND FORMER STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT FOR GEORGIA.

AND RICHARD WOODS IS THE INCUMBENT STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT FOR GEORGIA.

NOW LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS.

CRYSTAL IS A REPORTER AT AXIOS ATLANTA AND TO COVERS EDUCATION.

PLEASE VISIT THE PRESS CLUB WEBSITE ATLANTAPRESSCLUB.ORG.

TO START THE DEBATE, EACH CANDIDATE ARE BE ASKED ONE QUESTION AND PANELISTS HAVE 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.

CRYSTAL, YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION TO RICHARD WOODS.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

GOVERNMENT CAMPS LAST WEEK SIGNED LEGISLATION BANNING WHAT HE CALLED DIVISIVE CONCEPTS BEING TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS LEGISLATION AND HOW DO YOU THINK THIS WILL AFFECT TEACHERS AS WELL AS STUDENTS?

>> PLEASED TO WELCOME TO HELP CRAFT THIS LEGISLATION.

MYSELF BEING A FORMER TEACHER AND ESPECIALLY TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES AND HISTORIES, I LOOK AT THE BILL AND SAID COULD I FEEL COMFORTABLE AS A TEACHER TO, YOU KNOW, USE THIS LEGISLATION AS A GUIDE?

AND I DID NOT.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT IS PUTTING A PROCESS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE.

I THINK IT PROTECTS TEACHERS AND GIVES THEM A GUIDE AND MAKES SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

I THINK FOR US, YOU KNOW, IT IS LOOKING AT WHAT IS OUR PRIMARY ROLE.

THAT IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING SURE OUR KIDS CAN READ RIGHT, DO ARITHMETIC, BECOME GOOD CITIZENS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY HAVE THE SKILL SET FOR A GREAT CAREER.

AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THIS, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE LEGISLATION IS WELL MONITORED, THAT WE'RE DOING OUR JOB BUT WE'RE PROTECTING OUR KIDS AND MAKING OUR FOCUS ON EDUCATING THEM AND GIVING THEM GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AS THEY MOVE FORWARD.

>> IT IS YOUR TURN TO ASK THE QUESTION TO JOHN BARGE.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, SIR.

YOU WERE SUPERINTENDENT BEFORE.

YOU CHOSE NOT TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2014.

SO I'M WONDERING WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE YOU WANTED TO COME BACK?

>> WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS.

ULTIMATELY, THE MAJOR DECISION FACTOR FOR ME CAME IN MY GRANDCHILDREN.

MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE BEGINNING SCHOOL THIS FALL.

THE OLDEST BEGINS KINDERGARTEN.

HE STARTED PRE-SCHOOL THIS PAST FALL.

AND MY DAUGHTER MADE A DECISION TO PUT THEM IN PRIVATE SCHOOL.

AND SHE MADE THAT DECISION BASED ON A LOT OF THE ISSUES GOING ON IN PUBLIC EDUCATION TODAY.

SHE DOES NOT FEEL THAT SHE COULD SEND HER CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND THAT THEY ARE SAFE, THAT THEY WILL BE EDUCATED, THAT THEY WILL NOT BE INDOCTRINATED INTO A LOT OF THE LEFT WOKE AGENDA THAT IS COMING FROM OUR SCHOOLS.

DEALINGS WITH GENDER, IDENTITY ISSUES, THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY ISSUES.

AND THEN LOOKING AT JUST BASIC STUDENT OUTCOMES AT THIS POINT.

OUR FOURTH GRADE READING AND MATH SCORES ARE THE LOWEST THEY HAVE BEEN IN 15 YEARS.

OUR 8th GRADE READING SCORES ARE THE LOWEST THEY HAVE BEEN IN 8 YEARS.

WE ARE NOT HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE HAVE LOST A LOT OF GROUND FROM THE TIME I WAS SUPERINTENDENT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL PARENTS IN THIS STATE, NOT JUST THE ONES WHO CAN AFFORD PRIVATE SCHOOL, ALL PARENTS CAN SEND THEIR CHILD TO A QUALITY SCHOOL.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT CONCLUDES THE FIRST ROUND OF THE DEBATE.

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

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE 30 SECONDS TO ASK THE QUESTION.

60 SECONDS FOR THE RESPONSE AND THEN THE CANDIDATE WHO ASKS THE FOR A REBUTTAL.

BY RANDOM SELECTION, JOHN BARGE, YOU MAY ASK THE FIRST QUESTION.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

MR. WOODS, I HAVE HEARD YOU REPORT ON THE SUCCESS OF CAREER PATHWAYS AND THE INCREASE IN GRADUATION RATES IN GEORGIA.

SINCE I DEVELOPED CAREER PATHWAYS BACK IN 2004, I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING THE POLICIES MY ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

ALSO REMOVED THE GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION TEST WHICH STOOD AS A BARRIER FOR GRADUATION.

THAT BEING SAID, CAN YOU POINT TO A SINGLE INITIATIVE YOU HAVE IMPLEMENTED IN EIGHT YEARS THAT HAS HELPED IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN GEORGIA AND IF SO CITE THE EVIDENCE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOK AT IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS COULD HAVE AN EDUCATION THAT EXPANDS BEYOND EVERYONE GOING TO A COLLEGE.

AGAIN, CELEBRATING WHETHER THAT'S TECHNICAL COLLEGE OR LOOKING AT THE MILITARY OR STRAIGHT INTO THE WORKFORCE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOK AT AS FAR AS WHAT IS OUR MEASURE, WE HAD THE HIGHEST GRADUATION RATE IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB CATCHING OUR KIDS UP.

ALSO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE LOOKING AT BEATING THE ACT AND SAT SCORES.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PATHWAYS YOU DEVELOP, ONE OF THE THINGS I INHERITED WAS THAT THERE WAS A TAKEOVER ATTEMPT BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL TO REMOVE, YOU KNOW, OUR PATHWAY OR CTA PROGRAM FROM US AS A DEPARTMENT.

AND SO THINGS WERE PERHAPS NOT AS ROSIE AS THEY SEEM WHEN YOU WERE GOING OUT.

SOMETHING YOU QUOTE, QUALITY COUNTS, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GEORGIA BEING 7th, BUT AS YOU WERE LEAVING OFFICE, GEORGIA RANKED 38th.

>> 30 SECONDS TO RESPOND, PLEASE.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, MR. WOODS.

JUST AS A POINT OF CLARITY, I THINK THAT YOU AFFIRMED MY QUESTION.

THE ONLY INITIATIVE THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU ARE CAMPAIGNING ON IS THE SUCCESS OF CAREER PATHWAYS.

I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OTHER INITIATIVE OR ANY OTHER DATA THAT SUPPORTS INCREASES IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND RICHARD WOODS, YOU HAVE THE NEXT QUESTION.

>> DURING YOUR TERM AS OFFICE OR AT LEAST AT WHAT POINT IN YOUR TERM AS YOU WERE SUPERINTENDENT DID YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA?

>> WELL, YEAH.

THAT'S -- WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THAT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T SEEM TO LET GO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE REASONS BEHIND THAT AND THE GOVERNOR AND I HAVE MENDED OUR FENCES.

GOVERNOR DALE ACTUALLY SUPPORTS ME IN THIS ELECTION.

SO IT WAS CLEAR TO ME THAT THERE WERE ISSUES THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED FOR EDUCATION, AND THAT WAS THE BEST WAY THAT I SAW AT THE TIME TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES.

BUT, AGAIN, THAT BEING SAID, GOVERNOR DALE AND I ARE ON GOOD TERMS.

>> 30 SECONDS IF YOU'D LIKE?

>> OKAY.

SURE.

AS WE LOOK AT THIS, THIS IS A TOUGH JOB AND IT IS A JOB I COMMITTED THAT I MADE SURE THAT I WANTED TO STAY IN IT AND RUN AND ACCOMPLISH THE THINGS THAT I PROMISED THAT I SAID I WAS GOING TO DO.

IN DOING SO, YOU KNOW, I ADDRESSED THE ISSUES SURROUNDING COMMON CORE.

WE WERE ELIMINATING THOSE STANDARDS.

WE HAD THE LARGEST REDUCTION OF STATE MANDATED TESTING IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

SOMETHING THAT MY OPPONENT INITIATED WHICH HE SAYS HE REMOVED BUT ACTUALLY WE WERE ABOUT TO STEP INTO A PROCESS WHERE EVERY SINGLE CHILD WAS GOING TO BE TESTED IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

WE EXPANDED PATHWAYS AND MAKING SURE OUR KIDS ARE ON TASK, STEM, STEAM, YOU KNOW, EXPANDING FINE ARTS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE DID NOT HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL FINE ARTS IN OVER 25 YEARS UNTIL I STEPPED INTO OFFICE.

SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT AS A LEADER YOU ARE GOING TO STAY THE FIGHT BECAUSE LEADERS FIND A WAY TO WIN.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR SECOND ROUND.

FOR THOSE JUST JOINING US, THIS IS THE DEBATE BETWEEN REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

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

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

YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION IN THIS ROUND.

>> SUPERINTENDENT WOODS, NICE TO SEE YOU HERE TODAY.

YOU SAID THAT GRADUATION RATES ARE THE HIGHEST THEY HAVE EVER BEEN, AND THEY HAVE BEEN RISING.

HOWEVER, 16% OF STUDENTS, MORE THAN 16%, STILL AREN'T GRADUATING ON TIME.

THAT'S ABOUT 21,000 KIDS.

I'M WONDERING WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THAT AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY ADULTS AND DIDN'T GET THEIR DEGREE?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOK AT DOING IS EXPANDING PATHWAYS.

THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AS I WAS COMING INTO OFFICE, WE ASSUMED THAT EVERY SINGLE CHILD WAS GOING TO A FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY.

WELL, THAT'S NOT THE REALITY OF LIFE.

SO AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EXPAND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, CHANGE OUR GRADUATION PATHWAY, YOU KNOW, FORMULA FOR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

NOT EVERY CHILD NEEDS TO TAKE THE SAME FORMAT FOR SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES, BUT WE NEED TO ALIGN WITH A PASSION THEY HAVE, WHETHER THAT IS LOOKING AT A PATH IN THE MILITARY, STRAIGHT INTO THE WORKFORCE, DUAL ENROLLMENT, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH OUR EARLIEST GRADES, WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE.

CONTINUE THAT FOCUS ON EARLY LITERACY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, TALKING WITH USM, LOOKING AT THEM AS SPECIAL NEEDS.

SO WE DON'T NEED TO NECESSARILY GET LOCKED INTO THE FOUR-YEAR PATTERN, BUT I THINK WE CAN DO THINGS BY EXPANDING AND GIVING US FLEXIBILITY FOR ALL THE KIDS OF THE STATE.

>> YOU CAMPAIGNED ON PREVENTING WHAT YOU CALL WOKE LEFTISTS IN INDOCTRINATING STUDENTS.

CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU WITNESSED PERSONALLY OR WHAT YOU EXPERIENCED PERSONALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THIS CAMPAIGN TOPIC?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

GOING BACK TO MY DAUGHTER AND MAKING THE DECISION TO SEND HER CHILDREN TO PRIVATE SCHOOL, THAT -- THAT CAME ON -- SEEING THAT SCHOOL ENROLLMENT FORM COME HOME THAT ASKED FOR THE GENDER OF THE CHILD AND IT SAID MALE, FEMALE OR OTHER.

AS A PARENT, SHE DECIDED SHE DID NOT WANT TO SEND HER CHILDREN TO SCHOOL TO BE INDOCTRINATED INTO THAT KIND OF THINKING.

WE HAVE ISSUES AROUND TRANSGENDER STUDENTS AND BATHROOM USAGE.

IN 2016 THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS SEND A LETTER TO EVERY SINGLE SUPERINTENDENT IN THIS DOWN THERE THAT I RECEIVED AS A LOCAL SUPERINTENDENT THAT DEMANDED THAT WE ALLOW BOYS AND GIRLS TO USE WHATEVER BATHROOM THEY CHOOSE TO USE BASED ON WHATEVER GENDER THEY IDENTIFY WITH.

I TOLD MY COMMUNITY AND MY BOARD THAT THIS DOESN'T REPRESENT -- IT WASN'T LAW AND WE WEREN'T GOING TO DO THAT.

BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE IN EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN GEORGIA.

YOU HAVE SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN GEORGIA THAT ALLOW CHILDREN TO DO THAT.

YOU HAVE SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT DON'T.

WE HAVE A DISTRICT RIGHT NOW, A PARENT OF A FIVE-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN A BATHROOM AT SCHOOL.

>> LIEUTENANT WOODS, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS YEAR PASSED NUMEROUS BILLS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE PARENT PARTICIPATION ENGAGEMENT, SO WE WILL BILLS THAT CLARIFY RIGHTS TO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS OR ACCESS TO CURRICULUM THAT STREAMLINE THE BOOK REMOVAL OR BOOK BANNING PROCESS AND THE AFOREMENTIONED CONCEPTS DISCUSSES HOW WE DISCUSS RACE IN THE CLASSROOM.

I'M WONDERING IF THAT WAS THE RIGHT APPROACH AND WHAT YOU WERE DOING TO ENCOURAGE MORE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT?

>> SINCE DAY ONE SINCE STEPPING INTO OFFICE, I HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN OPEN DOOR POLICY.

THAT MEANT I HAVE TALKED WITH PARENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

I HAVE GONE OUT TO PERSONAL HOMES TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE WILL CONTINUE THAT.

I THINK LOOKING AT THE LEGISLATION, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THE RIGHT BALANCE.

IT WAS A TIME IN WHICH WE DEFINITELY NEEDED TO HAVE THAT TRANSPARENCY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND CONTINUE TO WORK ON IS MAKING SURE DATA IS AVAILABLE TO OUR PARENTS.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE THEIR CHILDREN, THAT WE ARE JUST TEMPORARY PLACE HOLDERS OR GUARDIANS OF THEM.

BUT WE HAVE TO RESPECT THE ROLE OF PARENTS TO GOVERN THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION.

I THINK MAKING SURE THAT THEY CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS OUT THERE, WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE, WHAT THE CONTENT AND MATERIALS ARE.

THIS ALLOWS US TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

IT ALLOWS US TO BE FOCUSSED.

AND IT DOES ALLOW US TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.

NOT ONLY WITH KIDS BUT ALSO THE PARENTS AND COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

AS PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO EARN AND MAINTAIN THE PUBLIC TRUST.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CRYSTAL, YOUR QUESTION.

>> THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

YOU MENTIONED YOU WANTED TO I GUESS OVERHAUL THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT THAT?

>> CERTAINLY, YEAH.

WITHIN MY PLATFORM, PART OF MY PLATFORM IS TO REBUILD THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

QUITE HONESTLY, AS A LOCAL SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF MY CAREER UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, I COULD TELL YOU THAT THERE IS NOT VERY MUCH LEADERSHIP THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL TO PROVIDE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH THE GUIDANCE AND THE DIRECTION AND THE VISION THAT THEY NEED FROM THE STATE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE WITHIN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WHO HAVE ACTUAL ANY REAL ACTUAL EXPERIENCE IN LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THEIR -- THE POSITIONS THAT THEY HAVE.

I MEAN, VERY FEW OF THEM HAVE BEEN SUPERINTENDENTS OR EVEN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS.

AND, SO, THERE ARE LOTS OF ISSUES THERE.

THE CURRENT DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN SUED THREE TIMES FOR WHISTLEBLOWER OR HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT LAWSUITS.

STAFF HAS BEEN TOLD NOT TO SPEAK TO BOARD MEMBERS, NOT TO SPEAK TO LEGISLATORS.

SO IT IS A PRETTY TOXIC DYSFUNCTIONAL ENVIRONMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

>> NEXT QUESTION.

>> YES.

THIS IS A QUESTION FOR SUPERINTENDENT WOODS.

WE -- THIS PRIMARY SEASON HAS SHOWN US THAT WE HAVE A SPLIT REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND I'M WONDERING -- IT'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS SORT OF TRUMP DAVID SCHAFFER WING AND THEN THE JEFF DUNCAN GOP 2.0 WING.

AND I'M WONDERING WHERE YOU FALL ON THAT SPECTRUM?

>> WELL, I THINK FOR MYSELF, YOU KNOW, FOR US AS REPUBLICANS AND I THINK IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AS I HAVE LEFT EVERY SINGLE GOP MEETING, AT THE END THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER HAPPENS IN THIS ELECTION, WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AS A PARTY.

WE HAVE TO FOCUS THAT WE DO HAVE DIFFERENCES AND THAT'S QUITE ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, TWO DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS ON STAGE TODAY THAT HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, FOR MYSELF, YOU KNOW, MY FOCUS CONTINUES TO BE ON, YOU KNOW, ON THIS RACE TO MAKING SURE THAT I'M LIVING UP TO THE PROMISES THAT I MADE THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA, SO I'M GOING TO COMMIT TO THAT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, ONCE WE FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS ON MAY 24th, WE AS REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO COME TOGETHER AND SHOULD COME TOGETHER.

SO THAT'S MY COMMITMENT, THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT ALL THE REPUBLICANS THAT COME OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CRYSTAL?

>> THIS QUESTION IS ACTUALLY FOR BOTH OF THE CANDIDATES.

SO SIGNED A BILL THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO REMOVE ON STEEN MATERIAL FROM SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

WHAT DO YOU BOTH THINK OF THAT LEGISLATION?

AND HOW DO YOU ALL BALANCE THE VIEW BY SOME THAT CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO STORIES THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THEIR BACKGROUNDS?

>> YOU CAN GO FIRST.

>> SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THE LEGISLATION.

I THINK THAT -- I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO APPROACH THIS FROM A POSITION OF THIS IS BANNING BOOKS.

IT IS MORE -- TO ME IT IS MORE -- SEEN MORE AS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AGE APPROPRIATE MATERIAL FOR OUR CHILDREN.

I DON'T AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE RESOURCES THAT -- I MEAN, IF IT IS ILLEGAL FOR AN ADULT TO PROVIDE SOME OF THIS MATERIAL TO A CHILD, WHY IS IT LEGAL FOR THEM TO GET IT FROM AN ADULT IN A SCHOOL?

THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME.

AND SO I THINK THE LEGISLATION IS ON TARGET.

I WISH IT WOULD GO A STEP FURTHER.

I'M NOT ACTUALLY VERY FOND OF THE ABILITY TO ARGUE THE MERITS OF AN ENTIRE PIECE OF WORK TO JUSTIFY SEXUALLY MOLESTING A CHILD OR JUSTIFYING RAPE OR JUSTIFYING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THESE BOOKS THAT WE'RE EXPOSING MINORS TO.

>> MR. WOODS?

>> WELL, AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE MATERIAL AGAIN, I HAVE ALREADY STATED MY SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATION.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE END GOAL?

AND THAT'S PROTECT OUR KIDS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS AGE APPROPRIATE FOR THEM THAT THE CONTENT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEM TO VIEW AND I THINK WORKING WITH OUR PARENTS.

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THEIR RIGHT TO GOVERN THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION, PROVIDING OPTIONS.

AGAIN, NOT BANNING BOOKS.

IT GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS AND SAYS, THIS IS REALLY WHAT OUR COMMUNITY, THIS IS WHAT OUR SCHOOLS DO NOT WANT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT ENGAGEMENT IN ALL LEVELS, WHETHER THAT'S WITH PARENTS, WITH SCHOOLS AND THEIR BOARDS OF EDUCATION WHO ARE ELECTED.

SO WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE WE WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AGAIN, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HELP WORK WITH THE LEGISLATION.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE NOT REMOVED UNNECESSARILY, THAT IT CONTINUES TO BE OPTIONS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT MATERIAL, IF IT DOES NEED TO BE MOVED, SHOULD BE REMOVED AND WE WILL MAKE SURE WE FOCUS ON THAT.

>> YOUR QUESTION.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR BOTH OF YOU TWO.

I WILL START WITH DR.

BARGE.

>> SO WE HAVE A -- FOR OVER A DECADE, WE HAD A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS TAXPAYERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION.

IT'S A TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WE CALL IT.

THEY GET 100% BACK ON THEIR CONTRIBUTION.

IT STARTED OUT AT $50 MILLION IN 2008.

THIS YEAR -- IT'S BEEN GROWING AND THIS YEAR THE LEGISLATION EXPANDED IT TO $120 MILLION.

I'M WONDERING IF YOU AGREE WITH THAT EXPANSION AND WHETHER YOU THINK IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO GROW?

AND IF SO, WHY?

>> WELL, I'M NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED.

I THINK WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS THE GOAL SCHOLARSHIP.

I'M NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO THE GOAL SCHOLARSHIP.

I'M NOT OPPOSED FOR PARENTS RECEIVING A TAX CREDIT.

THE ONLY THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IS THAT WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT MONEY.

WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE TAXPAYERS.

WE KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING.

AND THE LAST THAT I RECALL WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS RECEIVING THE SCHOLARSHIPS, HOW MUCH THEY WERE RECEIVING.

AND SO I THINK THAT THERE IS AN ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING TRUTHFUL AND HONEST WITH TAXPAYERS ABOUT WHERE MONEY IS GOING.

BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH TAXPAYERS RECEIVING CREDIT FOR MONEY THAT THEY CONTRIBUTE TO A SCHOLARSHIP.

>> MR. WOODS?

>> WELL, I THINK AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS, AS BEING STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND OVER OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION, THAT CONTINUES TO BE MY PRIMARY ROLE, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONSTITUTION, WE'RE ADEQUATELY FUNDED.

THAT IS MANDATED.

I'M APPRECIATIVE FOR RESTORING THE CUTS.

WHAT I FIRMLY BELIEVE IS WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT IS OUR FUNDING IN THE FORM OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IT IS 1985.

IT IS ANTIQUATED AND THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT WHEN THE TIME THAT I WAS A CLASSROOM TEACHER.

TECHNOLOGY WAS AN OVERHEAD PROJECTOR.

WE DID NOT HAVE COMPUTERS.

WE DID NOT HAVE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WE HAVE TODAY.

AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DETERMINES, WE HAVE THE PROPER FUNDING.

THEN WE WANT TO SUPPORT ALL PARTS OF EDUCATION.

BUT RIGHT NOW MY FOCUS CONTINUES TO BE ON THAT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, MAKING SURE IT IS FULLY FUNDED AND ADEQUATELY FUNDED SO WE CAN DO THE JOB WE NEED TO DO TO REACH OVER 90% OF THE KIDS IN THE STATE.

>> CRYSTAL, YOUR QUESTION.

>> IT IS ACTUALLY ALSO A QUESTION FOR THE BOTH OF YOU.

SPEAKING OF FUNDING, HOW WOULD YOU BOTH CHANGE THE CURRENT METHOD OF FUNDING WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC EDUCATION IN GEORGIA?

WE KNOW THAT QBE IS OUTDATED.

IT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS AGO.

HOW WOULD YOU CHANGE THE CURRENT SITUATION NOW?

>> START WITH YOU, MR. WOODS.

>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS HOW WE PROCUR AND BUY THINGS WITHIN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE LOOKED AT IN BEING A FORMER BUSINESSMAN, PURCHASING AGENT, I THINK WE CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN LOOKING HOW WE'RE ABLE TO SPEND TAX MONEY AND HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY.

BUT ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.

AGAIN, LOOKING AT OUR POPULATION IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND WE DEAL WITH THINGS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, DYSLEXIA, VARIOUS FORMS OF SPECIAL NEEDS.

WE HAVE A GROWING POPULATION OF ELA.

EVEN JUST DRIVING, YOU KNOW, BUSSES TODAY.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE COST OF FUEL, WHICH CAN BE EXTREMELY OVERBURDENSOME WITHIN THE STATE.

ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I ASKED FOR FLEXIBILITY WITH THAT.

SO I THINK IT IS A COMBINATION OF WORKING WITH A GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND A GOVERNOR TO COME TOGETHER, CREATE A GREAT PLAN, LOOKING AT FLEXIBILITY AND LOOKING AT WHAT NEEDS ARE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, TIMES HAVE CHANGED, JUST LOOKING AT CONNECTIVITY AND WHAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH WITH THE PANDEMIC IS A CLEAR PICTURE THAT WE NEED TO EXPAND THAT.

>> AND MR.

BARGE?

>> THAT ACTUALLY ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.

I WOULD ADDRESS THINGS, SHORTCOMINGS, WITHIN THE FUNDING FORMULA.

I WOULD UPDATE THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE FUNDING FORMULA GIVES SCHOOL DISTRICTS MONEY BASED -- PROTECTS BOOKS BASED ON 1984 TEXTBOOK PRICES BECAUSE THE FUNDING FORMULA HAS NEVER BEEN UPDATED.

TO POINT OUT AN ISSUE THAT MR. WOODS RAISED, THERE IS NO FUNDING IN THE FUNDING FORM FOR TECHNOLOGY.

THERE ARE ALSO ISSUES WITHIN THE PARTS OF THE FORMULA.

LET'S SAY THAT COVERS EQUALIZATION.

SO THERE ARE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO RECEIVE EQUALIZATION FUNDS BASED ON A FORMULA THAT IS FLAWED.

THE STATE WILL IDENTIFY THE COUNTIES AND RANK THEM ON THEIR WEALTH AND DRAW A LINE AT A CERTAIN NUMBER, 20, 25 COUNTIES.

AND THOSE TYPE COUNTIES RECEIVE NO EQUALIZATION.

THEIR SHARE GOES TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

THE FORMULA DOESN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THOSE TOP COUNTIES HAVE LAND THAT'S OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT THAT THEY CAN'T RECEIVE AND GENERATE ANY TAX REVENUES FROM.

SO THEY ARE UNFAIRLEY PENALIZED.

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

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE 60 SECONDS FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

RICHARD WOODS, YOU GET THE FIRST CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> WELL, TO THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB, TO OUR PANELISTS AND MODERATOR AND TO GPB, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS TIME THAT WE'VE HAD TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK AT THIS, IT IS A RECORD, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OF TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HELD THIS OFFICE.

I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT I HAVE LED, YOU KNOW, WITH INTEGRITY.

I HAVE LED WITH DEDICATION, AND I HAVE NOT JUMPED SHIP TO CHASE OTHER OFFICES, YOU KNOW, FOR WHATEVER REASON IT MAY BE.

BUT OUR CHILDREN NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING TO STAY IN THE FIGHT.

AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THAT, AND I THINK YOU WILL FIND THAT I HAVE LED THAT WAY.

WHEN I GO OUT AND TRAVEL, PEOPLE LOOK AT ME AND SAY, RICHARD, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE NOT A POLITICIAN.

I THINK THAT SAYS A LOT FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN IN THE AREA OF POLITICS FOR EIGHT YEARS.

WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO ACCOMPLISH A LOT.

WHETHER THAT BE THE REMOVAL OF COMMON CORE.

NEXT YEAR EVERY CHILD WILL TAKE A STRONG PERSONAL FINANCE CLASS, AND WE WILL PUT THESE LAWS INTO EFFECT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL OF GEORGIA.

SO I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE AND YOUR CONTINUING STAY IN THIS OFFICE.

THANK YOU.

>> AND JOHN BARGE, YOU GET THE FINAL CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU TO THE PRESS CLUB AND THANK YOU, CITIZENS OF GEORGIA.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS IN A CRISIS.

WE'RE IN A CRISIS OF LEADERSHIP.

DUE TO LACK OF LEADERSHIPS, THERE ARE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THIS STATE THAT ALLOW BOYS TO USE GIRLS REST ROOMS, SCHOOL LIBRARIES WITH OBSCENE MATERIALS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROMOTING AND TEACHING CONCEPTS OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY TO TEACHERS.

DUE TO LACK OF LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE THE FOURTH GRADE LEADING AND MATH COURSE, THE LOWEST IN 15 YEARS.

THE 8th GRADE READING THE LOWEST IN 8 YEARS.

NATIONAL RANKINGS GOING FROM 12th TO 15th.

THE NATIONAL RANKING IN OUR STATE'S EDUCATIONAL FALLING FROM 7th TO 31st.

I HAVE 24 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, SUCCESSFUL EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE ACROSS THIS STATE.

MY OPPONENT MAY ATTACK ME AND QUESTION MY MOTIVES BUT HE CAN'T HIDE FROM THE FACT OF HIS OWN RECORD.

MY OPPONENT HAD FOUR YEARS OF LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE BEFORE CONTRACT WAS NOT RENEWED.

THE OUTCOMES OF OUR STATE IN MY FOUR YEARS FAR SURPASSED WHAT HE'S ACHIEVED IN EIGHT YEARS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR DEBATE.

WE'D LIKE TO REMIND VOTERS THAT ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, MAY 24th.

AND EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY.

OUR THANKS TO THE CANDIDATES AND TO OUR PANELS OF JOURNALISTS.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB FOR ARRANGING TODAY'S DELATE.

THEY WILL HOST THIS ELECTION SEASON.

VISIT ATLANTAPRESSCLUB.ORG.

THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB DEBATE SERIES.