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Planning Between Local Governments and School Systems
Dear...,
I am writing this letter as the President of the Georgia Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) to ask your consideration and support in regards to an important issue for Georgia. The Georgia Chapter of APA is a 1,000 plus member organization of professional planners and planning officials who serve Georgia’s communities in many ways, through all levels of state and local government and the private sector. GPA has been a registered non-profit in Georgia since 1968. More information on the Georgia Chapter of APA can be found at www.georgiaplanning.org
In some cities and counties in Georgia actions occur to ensure that local development decisions, land use planning, public infrastructure investments and locations of new public school facilities are coordinated. These are positive examples of local government coordination that should be acknowledged as models. However, the State of Georgia requirements, process and standards for public school plans and local government comprehensive planning are entirely separate.
In many cities and counties very little substantive coordination between local government planning and development decisions and school planning has occurred. As a result of this isolation of local government and school system planning, it can be assumed there have been many inconsistent decisions, missed opportunities and inefficient uses of public funds. The Georgia Chapter of APA believes the need for greater local government and public school system coordination is extremely important.
The State of Florida for many years through state statutes 163.31777 – “Public Schools Interlocal Agreement” and 1013.33 - “Coordination of Planning with Local Governing Bodies” has required better coordination of local government and school system planning. Among the requirements outlined by the Florida interlocal agreements are:
(a) A process by which each local government and the district school board agree and base their plans on consistent projections of the amount, type, and distribution of population growth and student enrollment.
(b) A process to coordinate and share information relating to existing and planned public school facilities, including school renovations and closures, and local government plans for development and redevelopment.
(c) A process for determining the need for and timing of onsite and offsite improvements to support new, proposed expansion, or redevelopment of existing schools. The process must address identification of the party or parties responsible for the improvements.
(d) A process for the school board to inform the local government regarding the effect of comprehensive plan amendments on school capacity.
(e) Participation of the local governments in the preparation of the annual update to the district school board's 5-year district facilities work program and educational plant survey
(f) A process for determining where and how joint use of either school board or local government facilities can be shared for mutual benefit and efficiency.
(g) A procedure for the resolution of disputes between the district school board and local governments, which may include the dispute resolution processes contained in chapters 164 and 186.
(h) An oversight process, including an opportunity for public participation, for the implementation of the interlocal agreement.
We believe a process similar to that outlined above in Florida would be very beneficial in Georgia for general planning purposes, but also to ensure decisions associated with growth and development and public investments for roads, sewer, recreation and new school locations are sensible. Continued isolation of local government and school system planning in Georgia will ensure poor implementation of land use plans when they conflict with new school locations and misdirection of limited public funds for roads and other infrastructure that are not used in locations where they are best serving the public’s and school system interests.
We are asking that the major organizations representing local governments and public school systems in Georgia begin to discuss the elements of a process similar to Florida to ensure better coordination of planning in the future. We do not believe coordination of the above factors will harm the ability of schools or local governments to manage their legal responsibilities. The Georgia Chapter of APA is willing to marshal resources to aid in the development of a process as outlined above.
We appreciate your consideration of this important issue.
Sincerely,
Dan Reuter, AICP, President
Georgia Chapter
American Planning Association
Making Great Communities Happen
Recipients of the Letter
Lynn Jackson
Director, Facilities Services
Georgia Department of Education
1670 Twin Towers East
205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE
Atlanta, GA 30334
Dr. Fran D. Perkins, Executive Director
Metropolitan Regional Education Service Agency
1870 Teasley Drive, SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
Georgia School Superintendents Association
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3980
Atlanta, GA 30302-3980
Jerry Griffin, Executive Director
Association County Commissioners of Georgia
50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1000
Atlanta, GA 30303
Jim Higdon, Executive Director
Georgia Municipal Association
201 Pryor Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Michael A. Beatty, Commissioner
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
60 Executive Park South, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
Revised Draft Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan Currently Under Review
A Revised Draft Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan, dated September 13, 2007, has been submitted by EPD to the Water Council. The Water Council will review the Revised Draft Plan and discuss it at their September 20th meeting. Any changes requested by the Water Council will be made to the document and a second revision will be made available for public comment on or about October 1, 2007. The period for public comment will run through the month of October and twelve public hearings will be held the week of October 15th.
Reprinted from the Georgia Water Council Website.
Please visit the website for more information: http://www.georgiawatercouncil.org/
Georgia Chapter Divisions are Here!
The GPA website Resources section now has an active section for planners to join and communicate via Divisions. The nine Divisions include Zoning Administration, Environment, Small & Rural Planning and Transportation Planning among others. The GPA Board is asking all Georgia Chapter members to join a Division.
GPA needs interested planners to lead these Divisions and monitor the Divisions sections of the GPA website. Are you interested in a specific Division topic? Than please consider leading a GPA Division! Just let the new VP for Programs Laura Keyes know and she can have you added.
Additional Information
GPA has a joint website on property rights with a number of organizations - www.georgiansforcommunityprotection.org. |
