Atlanta students to stay home from school as voters head to polls

Atlanta Public Schools students will not be in class today as city voters cast ballots for mayoral and school board elections.

The district reserved Election Day for staff training. Students will not report to school buildings, many of which also serve as voting sites.

Today’s election includes races for Atlanta mayor, city council positions as well as all nine Atlanta Board of Education seats. Twenty two candidates, including six incumbents, are running for the school board positions.

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There are two other measures pertaining to APS on the ballot.

Voters will be asked to weigh in on a proposal to extend a school property tax break for eligible homeowners.

Residents also will decide if a one-cent sales tax should be renewed to pay for APS renovations and other capital projects. If approved, the Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax would generate up to $650.8 million over five years for technology, transportation, construction, infrastructure and other work throughout the school district.

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