Arne Duncan says business community should recommit to Atlanta schools
As the early stages of the trial of 12 former Atlanta Public Schools employees accused of participating in a test-cheating conspiracy get underway, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said Monday he's hopeful about the district's direction.
"I thought the interim superintendent did a fantastic job. I'm a big fan of the new superintendent," he said of previous superintendent Erroll Davis and new superintendent Meria Carstarphen. "And I think this is a place that's moving forward."
Duncan visited Atlanta Monday with first lady Michelle Obama on the administration's annual back-to-school bus tour. He spoke with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after an event at Spelman College.
Duncan said too that the local business community should increase its support of the school district.
Former superintendent Beverly Hall, who faces numerous charges in connection with the cheating scandal, enjoyed strong support from the Atlanta business community, which continued to support her even as initial allegations of cheating surfaced. Chamber leaders at the time publicly supported a blue ribbon commission's probe that some called a whitewash of the scandal.
“I know historically the corporate community was very, very supportive and understandably backed off a little bit or backed off a lot in the midst of the cheating scandal,” Duncan said. “But I think this is a great time for the corporate community to re-engage and to support the good work that is going on.”
Corporate donors gave $200,000 to fund Carstarphen's transition period with the Atlanta school district, allowing her to begin work for the district before her official start date. Ann Cramer, chairwoman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber-backed Atlanta Partners For Education, served as head of the superintendent search committee.
At APS’ annual State of the Schools speech Tuesday, Carstarphen said she feels for the Atlanta business community.
“They’ve been through a lot too with APS,” she said.
She said she was likely to ask businesses to support specific programs around early childhood education and college-readiness, rather than for more general contributions. And, in return for corporate support, APS should do a better job of using the money the district already has, she said.
Cramer said she believed the business community is ready to continue support the district financially as well as with in-kind contributions or by sharing expertise.
“They adore her,” she said of the attitude toward Carstarphen, “which begins to build the hope and the trust.”
