Sunday we broke a story that should have sent shockwaves not only here, but across the state.

 In our story we reported that a special committee appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue to research ways to create long-term comprehensive education reform was recommending the collapse of all community colleges into the state’s technical college system.

 This would, in effect, kill the junior college system in this state.

 Of course, we have a vested interest in seeing that this does not happen. Having Georgia Perimeter College here not only provides an affordable and effective way for students to continue their education after high school, but having the GPC campus here has been and will be a valuable resource to our community in attracting new industries.

 After our story broke, we sought to do a follow-up, but we have been met with stonewalling from state leaders and just plain fear from officials and teachers of local colleges.

 We want to make this clear that this report is a rough draft and was leaked and has not yet been accepted by the governor. If and when it is, Perdue would be ill advised to accept this part of it.