School board incumbents win endorsements

By Eric Stirgus

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A group of about 30 Atlanta business and civic leaders announced Wednesday they have endorsed seven incumbents and two unopposed newcomers to the city's school board.

The group, EduPAC Atlanta, said at a news conference it supported candidates who understand and support the reforms being made by Superintendent Beverly Hall. Those reforms include smaller schools to reduce high school dropout rates and increase the percentage of students who graduate in four years. The group is pushing the slate with a marketing campaign called "Keep Reform Alive."

The incumbents endorsed are board chair LaChandra Butler-Burks, Brenda Muhammad, Khaatim Sherrer El, Cecily Harsch-Kinnane, Mark Riley, Yolanda K. Johnson and Emmett Johnson. The newcomers endorsed by the group are Courtney English and Reuben McDaniel.

"We had some very good incumbents," said EduPAC Atlanta co-chair William "Sonny" Walker.

EduPAC Atlanta began in 1993 in response to concerns about rancor on the board. More than 80 percent of the candidates they've endorsed have won.

The Atlanta school district has about 49,000 students and an annual budget of more than $600 million, which is greater than the general fund budget managed by Mayor Shirley Franklin and the City Council. EduPAC Atlanta stressed the size of the school district's budget and the students it teaches to urge Atlanta residents to vote for the board in the Nov. 3 election.