APS superintendent proposes changes in front office

By Ernie Suggs

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Superintendent Erroll B. Davis is proposing a reorganization of the district’s central office that he says will save the school system $500,000 and provide better support for teaching and learning.

Enlarge photo

Ben Gray, bgray@ajc.com Atlanta Superintendent Erroll Davis has proposed to reorganize the district's central office, which he says will save about $500,000 per year.

More Atlanta area news »

• Fires cause 13-mile traffic jam
• Motorcyclist dies in Cobb crash
• Frank Harry Rockstroh, 83, covered civil rights movement as news photographer
• Tropical storm warnings posted for Georgia coast, with rain possible in metro Atlanta by late Sunday

Davis’ plan calls for the elimination or reclassification of 64 positions and the creation of 63 new or reclassified jobs. He said only one job will be eliminated as part of the changes. 

Around 10 percent of the district office's 650 employees -- mostly in the departments of finance, human resources, communications, Davis' office and his chief of staff's office -- will be affected by the changes. Davis said the jobs will be posted in the coming weeks and people currently in the system will have the opportunity to re-apply for the new positions.

As part of the changes, Steve Smith has been named associate superintendent. Previously his title was deputy superintendent and chief of staff.

"I have asked all of my units to take a hard look at how they are serving teachers and students and to deliver better services from this office and if we can, put more direct resources into the schools," Davis said Friday morning. "This gives a sense of focus to the organization. And the focus is we are going to support, at every level, what the teachers do and do it systematically and in a silent-running manner."

Davis said the $500,000 savings to the taxpayers would be the result of adjusted pay grades for the new positions.

Davis' plan will be reviewed by the Atlanta Board of Education at its Monday meeting.

Verdaillia Turner, president of both the Atlanta Federation of Teachers and the Georgia Federation of Teachers, said she met with Davis last week, who briefed her on his need for "quiet, effective systems."

"We have seen some positions that we don't think are necessarily serving the district well," Turner said."From what we have seen of Erroll Davis, we like. So far, he has done a good job and we trust his judgement."