I do not want to see the proposals enacted. 

Both proposals have the potential to significantly weaken the education of the gifted in King George County.  Giving our local school board and in our case the Board of Supervisors (who control our county's tax rate and thus funds appropriated to the School Board) sole jurisdiction over the Local Plan is not an action that should be taken.  Members of our school board (or Board of Supervisors) have no training in educating gifted students and also no experience or expertise to adequately critique the plan and offer constructive suggestions. 

In addition to these concerns, enacting the second proposal which will take away the language that funds gifted education will enable local school boards to shift funds from gifted students to any other group that they feel needs the money.  Our school budget has been extremely lowered in the last two years.  Any chance to take money from one area (loosely worded gifted education language being a prime target) and use in another area (e.g., raising teacher's salaries) will be done without any regrets.  Already No Child Left Behind and making AYP, dictate too much of how funds are allocated and what curriculum is taught. 

In our efforts to meet the dictates of the government, we are shifting our focus and leaving behind another group of students who potentially will be our leaders of the future.  Without direct funding, programs for the gifted will be eradicated.  I must oppose these proposals.