Atlanta Public Schools has about 40 schools at high risk of potential state takeover if Gov. Nathan Deal's Opportunity School District amendment passes, but the head of Atlanta's board of education says he won't be actively campaigning against the amendment.
Instead, Board Chairman Courtney English says he’ll be focused on working with district staff to improve schools.
“The biggest piece of ammunition against the OSD is the ability to show progress,” he said.
In November 2016, voters will weigh in on a constitutional amendment that would allow control of low-performing schools to be shifted to the appointed superintendent of a new "Opportunity School District." That would mean decisions about how students are taught and how local tax dollars are spent would no longer be solely up to locally elected officials.
But English said he will be campaigning for better Atlanta schools.
“The children in Atlanta need help and they need help yesterday,” he said. “That’s the campaign for us. That’s the campaign against the OSD,” he said.
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