Waycross Journal Herald (GA)

Perdue Plan Could Make Waycross College A Tech School
MYRA THRIFT Staff Writer  
Published: January 16, 2009
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue has announced that he is planning to recommend that Waycross College as well as all two-year colleges within the University System be merged into the technical college system. Opponents say they fear Waycross may end up with" one big technical school" and that the wishes and concerns of the citizens of south Georgia will be ignored.

 

Nothing is written in stone, explained Dr. Gail Thaxton, president of OTC. It is only in the preliminary stage and is being discussed, but no action has been taken.

 

The University System of Georgia (USG) and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCGS A) have long enjoyed a close working partnership. Especially in a period of limited state resources, it is incumbent on all state agencies to ensure that their operations are as efficient and effective as possible, noted a statement from USG.

 

Toward that end, the USG and the TCSGA are working together to review their current programs and operations, in order to determine the appropriateness of an alignment of the two organizational structures to meet the needs of the next generation of Georgia college students.

 

This will be a long-term effort, and the USG and the TCSGA will announce their joint planning process and timeline in the coming weeks.

 

Dr. David Palmer, president of Waycross College, was in an Atlanta meeting with all of the USG president and was unavailable for comment.

 

He will have more information on the issue later, said Taylor Hereford, director of Development and Community Services at Waycross College.

 

Thaxton explained the issue is just in the discussion phase and no official action has been taken.

"This thing is very preliminary and is just in the discussion phase at this point. It's in the office and hands of the governor," said Dr. Thaxton. "He has been very interested in this and far reaching issues concerning improving education in the next decade," Thaxton said." This issue is among several he's interested in. It's just way too early to talk about it. We are not putting any plans in action. It's just at the discussion phase in Atlanta. We have no idea of any details."

 

Thaxton said Perdue established a Georgia Task Force to look into the national report" Tough Time, Tough Choices" and has had several ideas come forward. This is just one of those ideas, she said.

"We will just continue to do what we do best and that is teach and train students," said Thaxton." I only want what's best for the students."

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