Atlanta School Board member Courtney English denied working for Child First USA or any kind of conflict of interest as alleged in a complaint that the Ethics Commission of the Atlanta Board of Education voted on Friday to investigate.
“I do not now nor have I ever been employed with any organization seeking to do business with the Atlanta Public Schools and any information to the contrary is incorrect,” English wrote in an email response to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter. “This is a frivolous attempt to silence the call for excellence and equity throughout APS.”
The 43-page ethics complaint was filed Nov. 5 by Atlanta resident Janet Kishbaugh. In it, Kishbaugh wrote that it “appears” English works for Atlanta-based Child First USA and “has been soliciting various APS schools for contracts as an after-school program provider.” Kishbaugh could not be reached for comment Friday.
Atlanta School Board Chairman Reuben McDaniel said Friday that after he heard rumors in early October that English was involved in a conflict of interest, he asked English if he worked for Child First USA. “He told me he did not work for them and had never worked for them,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel said he believes the investigation will confirm that. Child First USA does not have a contract with Atlanta Public Schools, and the board has never voted on a Child First USA contract, McDaniel said.
Child First USA executives did not return calls and emails seeking comment. APS commission liaison Howard Grant said the ethics commission has 60 days to complete its investigation.
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