An opportunity not to take power from Atlanta’s voters
State officials have an opportunity this week not to overreach, and to keep the Atlanta Public Schools board intact.
The state Board of Education will hold a “courtroom-style one-day hearing” Tuesday, as my AJC colleagues described it, to decide whether to recommend that Gov. Nathan Deal remove the city’s school board members from office. The Legislature set up this procedure earlier this year as a safeguard in case the APS board appeared unable to keep from losing the system’s accreditation.
The board has made some progress by solving its internal bickering about its leadership, although the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has warned that APS may have trouble rising out of its current probation because of the scale of the cheating scandal as reported by state investigators.
That’s as it should be. The cheating scandal was always far worse than petty politics among elected politicians, and it was never clear to me that the governor’s removing and replacing the board should be considered less of a political action.
Even if the board members were still fighting among themselves, however, removing them from office would be a step too far. The power of voters to elect their representatives — even if they act like knuckleheads sometimes — should not be violated. If the voters decide their representatives are too knuckle-headed to continue until the next election, the voters should move to recall them or pressure them to resign.
The eight elected board members (a ninth, one-time chairman Khaatim Sherrer El, recently resigned to take a job in Newark, N.J.) need to see this recovery process through alongside new Superintendent Errol Davis. If they falter, Atlanta parents and voters must hold them accountable.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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44 comments Add your comment
DCB
July 25th, 2011
6:57 am
I agree with you, Kyle. The governor taking over for the voters in this case is just another example of “I’m from the government and here to help you.” Aren’t we seeing enough of that lately with our federal government. Heaven help us from allowing our state and local officials to do likewise.
Sheila
July 25th, 2011
6:59 am
I agree that the state should not replace the board till there is no other choice. I am not optimistic that the voters will do anything constructive. After the next election the voters of Atlanta will be on their way to the aps they deserve. One way or the other.
Larry
July 25th, 2011
7:10 am
Kyle, you’re either very naive or maybe a little corrupt. The voters in Atlanta have demonstrated a definite inability to elect competent, honest individuals. The Maynard Jackson cartel has run (and continues to) the City of Atlanta into the ground. The APS scandal is just another in a long line of incidents where good government went out the window. People have the right to govern themselves as you point out; however, at some point they forfeit that right through greed, stupidty, corruption, self indulgence or sloth. Atlanta was once a great city; it no longer is. The State can act in its own self interest if one of its most valuable assets is endangered. Atlanta is clearly endangered.
Tom E. Gunn
July 25th, 2011
7:18 am
The state should NEVER overide the people, for when they do, they cease to become our representatives, and become our adversaries.
Ayn Rant
July 25th, 2011
7:19 am
There are far too many elective offices for voters to give proper attention. Half the adults of voter age don’t bother to vote, anyhow. So, what’s “democratic” or commendable about the election of school board members and scores of other local officials? And why shouldn’t one elected executive (mayor, county supervisor, etc.) and a few elected legislators (board of supervisors, city councils, etc) be sufficient governance for all functions in any county or municipality?
The plethora of elective offices dilutes responsibility, confuses voters, and discourages people from bothering to vote at all.
We need a simpler structure for local government, and fewer, more accountable elected offices. We need less faux “democracy”.
Lil' Barry Bailout
July 25th, 2011
7:41 am
Why would Deal ever want to take responsibility for such an unredeemable mess of a school system? The teachers and administrators are bad enough, and then there are the thugs, baby mamas, and “studying is acting white” mobs that make up their student population.
Former Reagan Republican
July 25th, 2011
7:55 am
I totally agree. The state government is over stepping its bounds.
Former Reagan Republican
July 25th, 2011
7:57 am
And may I add the state government also has NO right to override the will of a local BOE by forcing a charter school upon them.
Bill Campbell
July 25th, 2011
8:36 am
Most Atlanta voters are too stupid to make any intelligent decisions on anything!
the red herring
July 25th, 2011
8:36 am
In most cases i would agree with you kyle but in this case this school board has failed repeatedly. At some point the state has to step in and say “no more”. Now if this county doesn’t need state money to operate it’s schools then let them continue to screw them up as they wish. These people should be held accountable just like beverly hall and her associates. To simply say “well it’s up to the voters to do that” is not acceptable as many state taxpayers contributing don’t get to vote on this. Agree that unless it a worst case scenario that we shouldn’t have the state step in but i think this situation has reached that point. It is however a step that should not be taken lightly.
Aquagirl
July 25th, 2011
9:06 am
Uh-oh. I agree with Ayn Rant, my week is shot already, lol. Though I’d add the recent spate of referendums (transportation, Sunday sales) are another sign of chickenhearted legislators kicking the can down the road. Now the Governor has the power to remove elected officials when he deems they’re not doing their job? Not good. Not good at all.
brad
July 25th, 2011
9:08 am
Itty Bitty Barry
If it’s not the Muslims, it’s the blacks, right? Maybe you’d be more comfortable in a place like Norway…
Carlosgvv
July 25th, 2011
9:45 am
When Georgia politicians hold “one day hearings”, it means they have already made up their minds and these hearings are just window dressing.
BCR
July 25th, 2011
10:31 am
Kyle, I disagree with you on this. You’re assuming a populace that is concerned, educated and involved. This does not describe the voters in these districts. They continue to elect incompetents. They don’t even make good choices when voting, so how in the world would they EVER be able to implement a recall. Pressure to resign is a joke in Atlanta.
VB
July 25th, 2011
10:37 am
If from the public viewpoint the Board has failed to act responsibly, remove the Board ,hold a special election(allowing current members to run) and create a new Board. Most importantly, the public needs to be responsible for holding the new Board accountable.This is a window of opportunity to start fresh not only for APS but also for its governing body. Insanity: If you keep doing the same old things,you will get the same results.
MiltonMan
July 25th, 2011
10:38 am
The residents of Atlanta are too stupid to elect anyone who would be good for the city.
captguitarman
July 25th, 2011
10:49 am
You are dead right, Kyle. The state will rue the day it sticks its nose into such an absolutely local elected body as the school board. What happens if the state appointees (political hacks and cronies every one, you can bet your ranch on that) come in and poor results continue, or something else really bad and ugly happens? Do we call in the feds to take control then? Yeah, right. Many of those who posted comments in favor of a take over would be the first to scream absolute bloody murder if the federal government came in to take over a poorly functioning branch of state, county, city government, etc. The APS Board is doing better, and it needs to be encouraged to improve — and not saddled with some out of work political cronies desperate for an appointment to a new job. If the Guv has enough spare time to take this one on, I think it could be put to much better use finding out what the heck happened to the Ethics Commision, and what happened to the investigation of his campaign funding, and what in the heck happened to those subpoenas that were all signed and ready to go, just before the “emergency” budget cuts were made — so other new appointee cronies could get much higher salaries than their immediate predecessors for the same job??? Maybe the feds need to come in and take over this now dysfunctional Ethics Commission, and appoint some new folks to handle that? How does that one sound, Bubba?
JB
July 25th, 2011
11:00 am
Money………or Laws will never fix what’s wrongs with APS. A strong, caring family unit with a mother and a father involved will………spend away, it won’t help
brad
July 25th, 2011
11:03 am
Kyle, I dare you to disavow the overt racism of several of these posts.
@@
July 25th, 2011
11:10 am
Kyle, although it goes against my conservative grain, repeated efforts to recall Clayton County’s school board members were futile. Too many disinterested residents.
I’m glad Perdue stepped up when no one else would.
tar and feathers party
July 25th, 2011
11:20 am
APS has no standards and no ethics, yet Kyle seems to think the people who voted these things into power have the sense to do better? Losers are losers for a reason.
Moderate Line
July 25th, 2011
11:24 am
Ayn Rant
July 25th, 2011
7:19 am
There are far too many elective offices for voters to give proper attention. Half the adults of voter age don’t bother to vote, anyhow. So, what’s “democratic” or commendable about the election of school board members and scores of other local officials? And why shouldn’t one elected executive (mayor, county supervisor, etc.) and a few elected legislators (board of supervisors, city councils, etc) be sufficient governance for all functions in any county or municipality?
The plethora of elective offices dilutes responsibility, confuses voters, and discourages people from bothering to vote at all.
We need a simpler structure for local government, and fewer, more accountable elected offices. We need less faux “democracy”.
++++++++
You bring up an excellent point. I saw a documentry on the New Jersey school system which seem to indicate the main contributor to school board members running for elections were teacher unions. Now, I don’t know if the same things is happening in Atlanta but the more elections the less individual voters can focus on the particular election. This link below is a study between trade-offs of having more or less elections.
http://harrisschool.uchicago.edu/about/publications/working-papers/pdf/wp_07_13.pdf
BCR
July 25th, 2011
11:25 am
Brad
Where is the “overt racism?” You are the only one who has inserted the idea–TWICE!
Lil' Barry Bailout
July 25th, 2011
11:41 am
brad equates bad behavior with a particular race. There’s a word for that.
Dana Blankenhorn
July 25th, 2011
11:43 am
Nothing’s going to happen. If Deal has the APS board replaced, then he owns the Atlanta schools. That’s the last thing he wants. They’ll hold the hearing, issue stern warnings, and go away.
And to any conservative wishing to gloat about this, two words. Michelle Rhee. Google it.
GT
July 25th, 2011
11:47 am
That is almost comedy. If they falter? There is no clear vision of what the board wants. This is not a matter of populist vote. We are trying to do an extreme makeover here and the vision has seldom been seen in the south. There is an unspoken belief in both white and black leaders that this vision cannot be accomplished only because it never has been accomplished. There is not much emotion put into education at a high school or higher levels by our leaders. The cheating is just a byproduct of the disease and I can promise, as we listen to our elected officials particularly our governors this is not just a black problem. Not much separates the common man of this state and that of a third world country, except the third world country is doing something about it.
Kyle Wingfield
July 25th, 2011
11:49 am
Ayn: Yes, because our local officials are doing such a fine job with their existing responsibilities. Let’s let them run the schools, too!
On the contrary, Former, I think giving students and parents alternatives to a poorly run school system is a much more appropriate method of intervention for the state.
brad: Neat little trick you’ve concocted there. If I “disavow” someone else’s comments now, you’ll accuse me of endorsing any future comments I don’t expressly disagree with. And if I just ignore you, you’ll say I agree with them. Since you’re determined to brand me either way, I think I’ll just disavow your ridiculous demand.
Read the Words!
July 25th, 2011
12:02 pm
@ BCR, 11:25: “Brad, Where is the “overt racism?” You are the only one who has inserted the idea–TWICE!” Well, let’s see.
Larry, 7:10 am, “The voters in Atlanta have demonstrated a definite inability to elect competent, honest individuals. The Maynard Jackson cartel has run (and continues to) the City of Atlanta into the ground.”
Lil’ Barry Bailout, 7:41 am: “The teachers and administrators are bad enough, and then there are the thugs, baby mamas, and “studying is acting white” mobs that make up their student population.”
BCR, 10:31 am: “Kyle, I disagree with you on this. You’re assuming a populace that is concerned, educated and involved. This does not describe the voters in these districts.”
MiltonMan, 10:38 am: “The residents of Atlanta are too stupid to elect anyone who would be good for the city.”
“Tar and Feathers party” [curious moniker that sounds like a lynching mob], 11:20 am: “APS has no standards and no ethics, yet Kyle seems to think the people who voted these things into power have the sense to do better? Losers are losers for a reason.”
Sounds pretty racist to me, given Atlanta’s racial demographics…but Brad, you have to remember the First Amendment. Also, they’re revealing that the true basis of their judgments is racial.
GT
July 25th, 2011
12:16 pm
Billy Payne, Johnny Isakson, Robert Prechter, Stan Jones all products of APS. Go back to those days and see what was being done right. These guys not only were leaders of this town they were leaders of the nation and the world. Educated people didn’t scare them, unlike today’s local leaders, they were and are one of them. There were hundreds like them, these just came from one Atlanta Public high school and there were plenty in their classrooms that could keep up with them.
brad
July 25th, 2011
12:26 pm
It wasn’t a trick at all, Kyle. You’re just as paranoid as your your followers.
williebkind
July 25th, 2011
12:37 pm
If you want better quality people and just not people with higer incomes, drop the cost to run for office. Most people go in debt or borrow money to run for office. Some of course get sponsors but we see how good they are, there are the ones in office. Get rid of the cost of running for public office!
BCR
July 25th, 2011
12:44 pm
READ THE WORDS @ 12:02 pm
Are any of these comments racist? NO. My comments apply to individuals, who have the power within themselves to become educated, concerned and involved. The choices voters have made in Atlanta reflect our city today. You get what you vote for. To me, it’s about personal responsibility. I don’t see anything racial in that–unless you want it to be.
Read the Words!
July 25th, 2011
12:59 pm
@BCR. Your comments at 10:31 am were about the present “voters in these districts.” Indirect racial code, since those “voters” in the APS districts are predominantly African American.
williebkind
July 25th, 2011
1:15 pm
Read the Words!
July 25th, 2011
12:59 pm
So if you say anthing negative or prove wrong doing for anyone in those areas YOU ARE A RACIST?
So you can not debate anyone about anything without being a racist. Too bad I am such emotionally strong person or I would feel sorry for you. Is that what you want? People to feel sorry for you?
Doris M
July 25th, 2011
2:04 pm
I agree with you Kyle. The voters elected their board members and should not be removed by the State unless a crime has been committed. The cheating scandal at APS by far out weighs whether or not board members get along. Look at the APS board from years back; it was the best show in town. Dissenters welcome.
Read the Words!
July 25th, 2011
2:20 pm
Debating or proving wrongdoing or saying something negative is not the problem—-it’s the words used, the implications of phrases such as “Maynard Jackson cartel,” “residents of Atlanta…stupid”, “APS has no standards and no ethics …losers,” “thugs, baby mamas, ’studying is acting white’ mob,” “voters in these [APS] districts [who are not] concerned, educated and involved.” This is racial code for inner city African Americans since they are mostly the ones living in these areas and districts.
As I say– read the words! HOW you say something, not just WHAT you say. How would you feel if you lived in one of those districts or had children going to the APS, and read that?
tar and feathers party
July 25th, 2011
4:34 pm
Ah Read the Words! – You’ve labeled me a racist, and I haven’t even used the word ni gge r even one little time! So unfair!
Chuck Fuller
July 25th, 2011
4:38 pm
I’m willing to bet that none of those who commented can cite one thing that the APS Board did that suggests that they should be removed. Following the logic of those who believe that the Board is dysfunctional, they have obviously never watched or attended a U.S. Congress hearing or a Georgia general assembly meeting. Finally, what about rep Joe Wilson’s comment to the President of the United States “You lie”?
TruthBe
July 25th, 2011
5:51 pm
I think the entire Atlanta School Board should be fired at once before the start of the new school year. The corrupt downtown politicans have hired a bunch of their friends, family, and like mined democrats for too long. How about they hire qualified people only to run the school systems. And don’t base it on racist like the corrupt Black politicans have been doing for almost 40 years now in Atlanta. Black CEO’s, Black CFO’s, Black Mayor’s, Black Department Heads, Black Chairmans, Black City Board Leaders, and Black School Superintendents. Hey do you hear that former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin has taken a job with Delta as one of their board of Directors. Wow what a conflict of interest that is. If you remember at the end of her term she cut a big deal for Delta Airlines very favorable and against the best interest of the City of Atlanta. Where’s the investigation or AJC reporting on this. Can you say CORRUPTION in government? Ask the former Mayor about how’s those profitable food contracts going for her family with the Airport.
TruthBe
July 25th, 2011
6:02 pm
Chuck Fuller, President Obama did lie about obamacare and you and Joe Wilson know it. Get your head out of Obama’s ass and wake up. President Barrack Hussein Obama is a proven LIAR period. Obama and the entire Democrat Party owes Mr.Joe Wilson an apology. Wilson had the courage to stand up and speak out aganist this corrupt President.
John Q. Public
July 25th, 2011
7:13 pm
Kyle, please tell me what would have been the results of the Civil Rights era if the Feds were told, you do not have any say in state education or other state issues? Sometimes, when the problems are so bad, as we see in APS and so many other districts, the state must do something to right these wrongs, no differently than the Feds had to do in the 50’s and 60’s. As Robert Kennedy said, “progress is a nice word but change is it motivator and change has it’s enemies”. Are you an enemy of change and progress?
John Q. Public
July 25th, 2011
7:18 pm
@Former Reagan Republican: you do know that Reagan was a huge supporter of school choice. He was demonized by traditional educators who support the status quo like yourself. So, are you a confused Reagan Republican or just a bleeding heart liberal wearing a Reagan mask?
WillieRae
July 25th, 2011
7:20 pm
Chuck,
The APS board fought and squabbled while the superintendent created a climate of fear and compromise that fostered or created the most signifianct cheating scandal in the entire country. The board failed in their basic responsiblities of leadership and ownership. The board has been more interested in their petty political issues than in the children.
With all of that said, I hope the governor does not replace the board at this time. I don’t like to see one level of government replace those elected by the people except as a last resort.
Will the voters hold this board accountable? Will the voters demand quality from the APS? I doubt it.
The voters will ultimately get the board and the education for the children that they deserve.
Why in the world would you inject Joe Wilson and Obama into this conversation except to race bait? That is truly shameful.
KenFromCalifornia
July 27th, 2011
12:57 pm
ours is a country of checks & balances…the people have the power to elect, but it isn’t always a simple matter to correct mistakes when those they’ve elected have proven to be ineffective, incompetent, or corrupt.
a higher authority needs to step in. going through a slow process of recalling officials, while high school seniors nervously await their test scores or face fear that they are headed for remedial classes in college, such is completely unfair to ask. it is well past time that the needs of students should take a back seat to the selfish needs of the adults who mess over them.
and the checks & balances go all the way to the top: a state governor who proclaims, “segregation forever!”, certainly will find that his words are hollow in this system, despite the power of those who voted him in (and who may feel the same way). what matters is what’s right for those who find themselves victimized by elected officials.
graduating from high school and THEN finding out that you are not college material, nor that you are employable in this horrible job market, that’s a tough price to pay simply because your elected officials are determined to keep their jobs no matter what. it is even more ironic with school leadership; they don’t prepare you for a job, yet their own jobs are safeguarded no matter how ineffectively/illegally they perform??
this scandal is a RICO-scale criminal enterprise that was going on right underneath the school board’s nose. the so-called “blue-ribbon investigation” that beverly hall tried to snooker everyone with? well, that was a sham. it took the check & balance role of the state government to expose the truth….truth that wasn’t going to come from anywhere else, apparently.
(ajc’s investigation notwithstanding, of course).
the state board will let them stay on, apparently. but i believe if the state board wanted to replace the aps board, it is more than justified.
one can just look at how long it will take for any of the aps cheaters to be prosecuted, or if they will even be required to return their ill-gotten bonus money. such would shine a clear light on if the people can truly hold elected officials, and institutions, accountable.