Stop the Drama on Utopian Academy For the Arts Charter School System

from Representative Valencia Stovall

Yes, it's unbelievable that in 2014 educational discrimination exists in Clayton County. It's a new kind of discrimination, one of parent choice. Many times what people don't understand, they want to disband. I have witnessed it at the State Capitol and saw it again in this recent State Superintendent primary run-off. You can be a part of history in saying "Stop The Drama On Utopian Academy" There are two ways you can help Utopian Academy let Clayton County officials know that discrimination won't be tolerated in 2014
1. Click here on this link or text UTOPIAN to 52886. It will automatically email your message to them this morning.

2. Join us today at 9am at Harold Banke Justice Center 9151 Tara Blvd in Judge Matthew Simmons' courtroom. He is scheduled to rule on the Injunction filed involving Utopian Academy and Riverdale Mayor Evelyn Wynn-Dixon.

Friends, all these 200 + middle school students at Utopian Academy For The Arts in Riverdale wanted to do on Mon Aug 4th was to attend a school that their parents chose for them, not the school district. A free public education is the right of every child in Georgia without prejudice. There are many forces working behind the scenes and now they are out in the open against allowing parents their rights to choose the best setting for their children. As a parent and a Georgia lawmaker elected by the people, I stand boldly and say don't take that RIGHT away from me and these parents.

Utopian Academy is not for students who live outside Clayton nor in another country for that matter. It is an approved State Charter school system by the State of Georgia Board of Education and by state law must be afforded the same rights & privileges as Clayton County Public Schools. After being involved and present at several of the meetings between Utopian Academy, Clayton County Public Schools and the City of Riverdale officials, I decided to do some investigation on the matter. Here are my findings: Public Schools are not required to obtain a business license. They are required to have a Certificate of Occupancy. New legislation effective July 1st states that anytime a certificate of occupancy/inspection is refused by a local government to be issued, the applicant must receive in writing the reasons and cited the state code which it was based upon. It is allows for every establishment on the property to be issued a certificate and doesn't differentiate whether the entity is the lessor or subleasor, subleasee (Utopian Academy). In my opinion, it boils down that Utopian Academy should have been afforded the right to apply for the necessary certificates and allowed to go through the permitting process, but they were blocked from the beginning. 

We must Stop the Drama on Utopian Academy For The Arts and let the children receive their education. It shouldn't be discriminated upon because it's a charter school. All the parents pay the same taxes as the parents of children who attend Clayton County Public Schools. In some instances, they are the same parents who have younger or older children in CCPS. . 

"Great people make a community Great"

Contact my office by email contact@gostovall.com or 678-632-2825 or 404-656-0314, if you have questions.

Remember the final step for MARTA in Clayton County is voting on November 4th. Click here to Register to vote now. Look for more information soon.

The GoStovall Team is excited about what the future holds for our great county, Follow us @ValenciaStovall on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin.

www.Stovall74.com