The Atlanta school board will vote Tuesday on extending Superintendent Meria Carstarphen’s contract, a sign that they like what she’s done for Atlanta schools and want her to stick around.
“The board is incredibly pleased with the work that Dr. Carstarphen has done for our kids,” board chairman Courtney English said. “We want to move as fast as possible to ensure that she’s here for the long haul.”
Carstarphen became Atlanta Public Schools superintendent last summer under a three-year contract that included $399,000 in annual salary and expense allowances as well as benefits such as retirement contributions.
She started work a year after more than 30 former Atlanta educators were indicted in a district-wide cheating scandal and inherited a district scarred by the national notoriety it brought.
One year later, Carstarphen has won praise for her high-energy style and moves toward greater efficiency. A state Department of Education report released in June cited her "visibility, approachability and responsiveness" as one of the district's major assets.
But as allegations of improper grading practices at Atlanta high schools have surfaced in recent months, Carstarphen has admitted that ethical behavior is still not the norm in Atlanta schools. And the same state report found that, in general, Atlanta schools don't do a great job educating children: Student performance is below the state average in most categories.
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