The architect of Gov. Nathan Deal’s Opportunity School District legislation, which could allow state takeover of low-performing schools, could advise one of the legislation’s chief targets on how to avoid state takeover.
On Monday evening, the Atlanta Public Schools board was scheduled to consider hiring Deal’s departing deputy chief of staff for policy and legislative affairs Erin Hames on a no-bid, $96,000 consulting contract. Hames is leaving Deal’s office at the end of the month to go into private consulting practice.
The governor’s Opportunity School District legislation, which requires voter approval next year, would give the state the power to seize control of failing schools, convert them into charters or shut them down.
There are 27 Atlanta schools eligible for state takeover.
Hames is “offering to consult” with APS on “matters of policy, legislation, and political strategy,” according to the school board agenda.
It states APS would be hiring an entity called “Reform Ed.” APS spokesman James Malone confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Hames was the principal of that entity.
The topics Hames would consult on would include “developing strategies for chronically low performing schools in the district, to include those schools presently on the OSD-eligibility list,” according to her draft contract.
APS did not solicit bids for the services Hames would provide because she qualified as a “single source provider,” Malone said.
When Hames announced she was leaving the governor’s office, Deal said she was “the right person at the right time for my administration” and that she played a key role in developing his agenda the last five years.
“This move will allow her to focus her full attention on improving classroom outcomes so that every child has access to a great education, and it will allow organizations that share her vision to also benefit from her talents,” said Deal. “I’m glad that the governor’s office will continue to be one of those organizations benefiting from her expertise and work ethic.”
Hames often told skeptical lawmakers who peppered her with questions about Opportunity School District legislation that the ultimate goal was to improve struggling schools so there was no need for the district.
Hames is a former middle school teacher who joined Gov. Sonny Perdue’s staff as education policy adviser after graduating from law school. She stayed on with Deal’s team after his election, rising quickly to become one of his top policy aides.
She is the latest in a string of high-profile staff members to leave the office after Deal’s 2014 re-election. Bart Gobeil, Deal’s chief operating officer, left for a job with the Georgia Ports Authority earlier this summer. And Deal spokesman Brian Robinson will depart on Friday for the private sector.
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