[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6568479,"mediaKeyId","3194497-ebf5452b78db9b0488185b96320cde2f","parentId",3194497,"title","Residents, educators urge board to approve Tapestry charter and raise teacher pay; one commenter calls for removal of explicit library books","audioSeconds",2126,"startMs",2934000,"endMs",5060000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3194497-ebf5452b78db9b0488185b96320cde2f&start=2934&end=5060","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3194497-ebf5452b78db9b0488185b96320cde2f/thumbnail_2934000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6568479/Georgia/Residents-educators-urge-board-to-approve-Tapestry-charter-and-raise-teacher-pay-one-commenter-calls-for-removal-of-explicit-library-books","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568479-956130fd6d6ad982405b44d98a660705/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394925&Signature=Tgc7kBxifvHENCOF5iZKG2ZRM5e8T18tL0ritKYtyuw5jyJwgOP~4e5THL9xeIuwdWZShZDV~UtZ1uPtIdbbyVwxxPH7QT0sIKCIUCxFH6L72ve6cAoRO-5IJnILiteZcsiXBfSTzLSCeYd7VtV6Q8nnCQt9nbDaD8JDALLeEx2ooouoM~XMeusF5r07h612cTAlT0U59bHnVw7qPyx3FhT2lJO-ZyF-8-9R8nRFR6bmaqyJtPcV9qiIglXRIMzBYzUJwG3nTDpKkVmNCJdtDFxxbAE-YvEtlBDQ84i0XO4xoc~hz-dzdkwttSfdCg3z6sBinoyoO2pc0ucoIK8bJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","School Board of Georgia ","date","2025-05-06T00:48:33.64Z","article","Several residents and educators used the May 5 public-comment period at the Clayton County Public Schools board meeting to press the board on three separate topics: approval of a proposed Tapestry Public Charter School focused on neurodiverse learners, district teacher pay and staffing, and removal of books that a commenter described as explicit.

Joaquinya Holman, who identified herself as a Clayton County resident and graduate, told the board she supports Tapestry Public Charter School and said she and other families currently travel outside the county to find appropriate programs for neurodivergent children. \"We want to support and uplift this community to ensure it thrives for all who reside here,\" Holman said, adding that Tapestry is a Title I school with nationally recognized practices and that approval would increase local options for families.

Amy Sims, who identified herself as a parent advocate and the mother of a child with special needs, described Tapestry’s model — co-teaching general and special-education instructors in every core classroom, smaller student-to-teacher ratios and sensory rooms — and said the program would offer families an in-county choice that does not require high tuition. \"Voting yes for Tapestry means voting yes to inclusion, to equity, and hope,\" Sims told the board.

Bradford Haddon, a teacher at Eddie White Middle School, urged the board to consider internal promotion paths for assistant principals and principals to retain instructional leaders. He also raised district staffing and pay concerns, saying he reviewed job postings and that Clayton County had 590 open positions among the 30 largest counties as of 3 p.m. that day; he said the district ranks 20th of those 30 for first-year teacher pay and urged the board to revisit pay scales to retain staff. Haddon offered to provide his data to the board for verification.

Angelica Mendez urged the board to remove an unspecified number of library books she described as \"explicit\" and said some titles contained graphic material and links that she called inappropriate for school libraries. She asked the board to act as \"champions\" for children and remove those books from Clayton County school libraries.

None of the public comments prompted an immediate vote at the May 5 meeting. Board members acknowledged the remarks; the chair said staff would present an overview of any material changes if the matter reaches an agenda item. The board did not take an immediate action on the charter application or on the library materials during the meeting.

Speakers and context
- Joaquinya Holman — supported Tapestry Public Charter School and said families currently travel outside Clayton County for services for neurodivergent children.
- Amy Sims — parent advocate described Tapestry’s co-teaching/special-education model and urged approval as an inclusive option.
- Bradford Haddon — Eddie White Middle School teacher who raised concerns about administrator hiring practices and teacher pay; cited 590 open jobs and a 20th-place rank for first-year pay among 30 large counties (he offered his data to the board).
- Angelica Mendez — public commenter who asked the board to remove an unspecified number of library books she termed explicit.

The board did not vote on any of these public requests during the May 5 meeting; staff and board members indicated that items would be considered in their normal review processes or on future agendas if applicable.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Clayton County Board of Education Board Meeting | May 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents and educators told the Clayton County board May 5 they support Tapestry Public Charter School for neurodivergent students, urged higher teacher pay and internal hiring for school leaders, and asked the board to remove library books they described as explicit.","taxTitle","Clayton County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",15363,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6568483,"Clayton County board approves $495 million bond resolution, accepts Truist bid with May 31 closing deadline",6147,733000,6880000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3194497-ebf5452b78db9b0488185b96320cde2f&start=733&end=6880","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3194497-ebf5452b78db9b0488185b96320cde2f/thumbnail_733000.jpg","/articles/6568483/Georgia/Clayton-County-board-approves-495-million-bond-resolution-accepts-Truist-bid-with-May-31-closing-deadline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568483-3d117d407826db6276f52ccb228a5354/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394925&Signature=BKx1i7My3G6uuis7Zw02j8Qmp7PU7oT9udmUznsUWQmyJ1u2463VH8fxb4eoX0KJKPDj140rtbV3GvJiDOaJIj2-J2PV-LgWKgc0JUu8dp5BOcs~P~8XQTJn11fmmQDxCN8zY4Wio2YTW04jccw8NrC-~640U9mXUjEiFJ03nLcbYVHN0nP1KH3D7hGA6VcvzudAA3cfBB8rYeckVkvefAi~bZKqdXZETxHLrjXEqWB-bQK1dO~IKfIAIlfOURyp4nWCKsVPRkLnKEKkXecp8wJNjgpwSVNF~4-m0qZl9YhEXPnwdfooAGk3bv-pnFDM9EcMFKJozPdQ2CQTJnNxvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clayton County Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously May 5 to adopt a $495 million bond resolution intended to fund district capital projects and to lock a 5.13% interest rate from Truist Bank if the district closes on the issue on or before May 31.

The vote follows voter approval of a SPLOST continuation and the bond question in a March 18 referendum; school officials and financial advisers told the board that the Truist term was the lowest of four bids and that the 5.13% rate would rise to 5.16% if the district closes after May 31. The board added the bond resolution to the business agenda earlier in the meeting and then approved the resolution at the meeting’s end.

Board chair Charles White presided as financial staff and outside advisers outlined the timeline. Clayton County staff said bids were solicited in April and four responses were received; Truist’s 5.13% bid was presented as the most favorable. Financial adviser Ed Wall and district finance staff member (Miss Bivens) told the board the rate was guaranteed only if the district closed by May 31 and that market volatility could change available terms.

Wall said the bonds carry a 25-year term and will be repaid from SPLOST collections and a property-tax pledge above the district’s 20-mill cap. The district previously sold approximately $280 million in bonds; the new $495 million issue was sized based on conservative SPLOST revenue assumptions the advisers described to the board. Wall said the district’s SPLOST collections have averaged about $5.8 million per month (roughly $70 million per year) in recent periods and that the bond-sizing assumed 0% growth for conservatism.

Board members asked how falling SPLOST receipts or other economic changes would affect debt service. Wall and district staff said they modeled a downside scenario and concluded SPLOST declines of about 10% would not prevent debt service from being met; the bonds are secured by SPLOST and a property-tax pledge. Advisers also said the resolution includes prepayment terms that let the district redeem up to 10% of the outstanding principal in a year without penalty during the initial period and allow penalty-free prepayment after five years.

During the discussion, District 7 member Sabrina Hill pressed for clarity on the 25-year amortization and what options the district would have to shorten the schedule. Wall said the bond documents include redemption language and that the board could elect to use excess SPLOST receipts to shorten the term in future years. He said that when earlier bonds paid off, annual debt-service obligations would decline and free funds would be available for pay-as-you-go capital projects or additional debt reduction.

The board moved the item onto the agenda earlier in the meeting after a motion by District 2 member Mark Christmas and a second by District 6 member Mary Baker; the full resolution was discussed under the business agenda and approved later in the evening. The final motion to adopt the bond resolution was made and seconded on the record and the board chair called a unanimous vote to approve the superintendent’s recommendation.

Votes at a glance
- Added bond resolution to the business agenda (motion by Mark Christmas; second by Mary Baker) — approved to add to agenda.
- Consent agenda (financial report; SPLOST revenue report; purchasing report; budget amendments; SPLOST construction report; capital purchasing report; personnel changes) — approved unanimously.
- K–12 social studies and 9–12 language arts textbook adoption — approved unanimously.
- Policy series J (readings completed as required) — approved unanimously.
- Appointment: Sharita Slay, director of instructional technology — approved unanimously.
- Employee tribunal hearing 2024-2025-05: board accepted hearing board recommendation — approved unanimously.
- Bond resolution (accept superintendent recommendation and close on Truist term if conditions met) — approved unanimously.

Board and staff cited the voter-approved March 18 SPLOST/bond referendum as the public authorization for issuing debt. District officials said the March vote authorized a maximum interest cap well above the bid accepted; the current proposed terms were below that cap. The board chair and superintendent asked staff to continue communicating timing and any material changes to the public before closing.

The board’s action concludes the board-level approval step; the resolution sets terms authorizing staff to finalize documentation and close under the stated conditions. District staff said they would return notices and materials as required and work with the district’s bond counsel and financial advisers to complete the closing.

The meeting concluded with routine announcements and adjournment.","The Clayton County Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously May 5 to adopt a $495 million bond resolution tied to a SPLOST renewal, accepting a 5.13% Truist Bank term if the district closes by May 31; board members and financial advisers discussed repayment schedule, prepayment options and risks tied to SPLOST collections.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents, educators urge board to approve Tapestry charter and raise teacher pay; one commenter calls for removal of explicit library books

Clayton County board approves $495 million bond resolution, accepts Truist bid with May 31 closing deadline