Atlanta school board changes legislative priorities

The newly elected Atlanta Board of Education on Monday voted against asking state lawmakers to make all schools proportionately share financial liabilities — language that was aimed at having charter schools contribute to pension debts.

Board member Jason Esteves asked that Atlanta Public Schools' legislative priorities exclude the language about financial liabilities and replace it with a request for support of early childhood education.

House Bill 680, which is pending in the state House of Representatives, would allow school systems to deduct money from charter schools to help pay unfunded pension liabilities.