Atlanta Superintendent Meria Carstarphen has removed the principal of Douglass High School as the school is in the midst of a school turnaround effort funded by $3.8 million in federal grants.
Some Douglass parents and alumni say Carstarphen should have given principal Tony Burks more time to improve the school. They’ll rally today at the school district’s headquarters before the school board’s meeting, at which the board is set to approve the non-renewal of Burks’ contract.
Douglass is one of the lowest-performing schools in Georgia and at risk of state takeover if Opportunity School District legislation takes effect. That requires a majority approval by voters in the 2016 general election.
Last week, Atlanta Public Schools spokesman James Malone confirmed that Burks would not be Douglass’ principal next year, but declined to answer questions about his removal.
Douglass has not shown signals of problems implementing the school turnaround plan, Georgia Department of Education spokesman Matt Cardoza said, and the state did not ask Atlanta to remove Burks.
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