My son, David, graduated from the University of Georgia on Saturday. He did very well and we are quite proud of him. But, when I really stop to think about it, a great deal of the credit goes to the teachers who prepared him.

Like his siblings, he is a product of the Fayette County school system. I doubt that there are finer public schools in America.

Excellent schools didn't’t happen by chance. They are the result of planning and work and sacrifice by citizens who place a high priority on education. It is wrong for people in other counties who didn't’t sacrifice for high-quality schools to sneak their kids into ours. It is especially wrong for them to lie on an affidavit to cheat Fayette taxpayers that way.

Our school officials believe that. So do I.

So, last year we got tough. We promised to crack down on folks who lie on affidavits to get into school. I think the cheaters listened.

For the first time in about thirty years, we have fewer children in Fayette County schools than in the previous year. Every month about fifteen families attempt to register their kids for school, but never provide the required proof that they live here. Many of those parents in the past would have sworn falsely on an affidavit that Fayette was their home. Now they just go away.

It costs $8300.00 each year to educate a child in Fayette schools. Some of that comes from the State and Federal governments. Fayette pays $4200.00 of that. That means we’ve saved Fayette taxpayers over $756,000.00 in 12 months.

You know what? I’m still indebted to the teachers and administrators who have taught my children.