APS ethics commission to consider complaint Tuesday against Collins

The Atlanta Public Schools ethics commission will meet Tuesday to review a complaint against school board vice-chairwoman Eshé Collins.

Collins is accused of violating a conflict of interest and board member conduct policies as well as the code of ethics oath, according to a complaint filed late last month by resident Dawn Brockington-Shaw.

The independent ethics panel will meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday to review the matter.

Brockington-Shaw’s complaint alleges that Collins “publicly abused” her and “used intimidation tactics to silence me and defamed my name.” The allegations stem from two community meetings -- one in 2016 and another in June -- to discuss school issues.

At the more recent meeting about concerns at Mays High School, Brockington-Shaw wrote that she and Collins disagreed and that the school board member “began to call me a liar,” according to the complaint, provided to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution by Brockington-Shaw.

Collins, in a written statement, called the allegations “completely baseless.”

“We have a process and forum for these matters, and I honor and value that process. A constituent chose this forum to publicize her personal animosities against me. I am confident that commission will review the frivolous nature of this complaint and justly resolve this matter in my favor. This is a tough job, and I will continue to listen, be present and engage our communities in this work,” Collins wrote.

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