Gwinnett Daily Post

Camie Young

Gwinnett’s Rep. Brooks Coleman is ready to get started on a study on funding public education.

Coleman, a former educator who heads the State House of Representatives’ Education Committee, introduced legislation this year to restructure the 25-year-old funding formula.

This week, Gov. Nathan Deal announced the 20 members of the commission that Coleman will chair. The group includes 10 members tapped by Deal, four senators, four representatives, along with the state schools superintendent and chief operating officer of the Georgia Department of Education.

“The members of this commission have both the knowledge of education and the expertise in education finance required to find the right ways to balance the educational needs of Georgia’s children with the appropriate resources to fund them,” Deal said. “I look forward to seeing the commission’s evaluations as we seek to find the best, most fair way to pay for our children’s education.”

Along with Coleman, Rep. Terry England, the Auburn man who heads the House Appropriations Committee, will be a part of the board.

Pak named influential

A local lawmaker was named one of the most influential Asian-Americans in Georgia by the Georgia Asian Times.

BJ Pak, who became the first Korean-American member of the General Assembly when he was sworn in earlier this year, was on the list of leaders who have made an impact in arts, business, politics, education and other areas.

Pak, who lives in Lilburn, is a lawyer with the firm Schiff Hardin. He was born in Seoul and immigrated to the United States at age 9.

Political Notebook appears in the Thursday and Sunday editions of the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Camie Young can be reached via email at camie.young@gwinnettdailypost.com.

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