DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Georgia voters will decide in November if they would like to maintain local control of “low performing” public schools or place them in state-run system for up to 10 years.

Gov. Nathan Deal’s Opportunity School District (OSD) would enable a state takeover of public schools that score below 60 on the Georgia Department of Education’s accountability measure, the College and Career Performance Index for three consecutive years. State legislators approved the idea in the 2015 General Assembly. Now, it’s up to the voters.

Lumpkin County School Superintendent Rob Brown made it clear Wednesday where he stands. During Wednesday’s work session, he introduced a resolution that strongly opposes OSDs and said he will ask Board members to ratify the resolution during Monday’s regular meeting.

In introducing the document, Brown said, “It’s an avenue that is not good for public education in Georgia. I don’t know that any of our schools would ever make the list (for state takeover) but we’re not real sure who would because they have yet to define what constitutes a chronically failing school. But the reality is that this is a state takeover of public schools across the state of Georgia that eliminates local decision-making authority.”

The resolution reads in part: “Whereas, if approved , the administration of schools placed in the Opportunity School District (OSD) would be overseen by a state-appointed superintendent to be confirmed by the senate, with the authority to waive State Board of Education rules, regulations, policies, procedures or provisions.

“Be it resolved, that the Board of Public Education for Lumpkin County, opposes the creation of a state-run school district, otherwise known as the Opportunity School District and that we shall strive to fully educate our community about the issues raised by this proposed amendment.”