Ethics panel dismisses complaint about APS board member’s phone vote

ajc.com

The Atlanta Board of Education Ethics Commission dismissed two complaints made against school board members, including an allegation that the chairman improperly allowed a vote by phone. 

The commission met Friday to discuss two complaints filed last month by Shawnna Hayes-Tavares.

One complaint alleged that school board Chairman Jason Esteves improperly allowed board member Cynthia Briscoe Brown to vote by phone during a March meeting. Briscoe Brown was traveling internationally during the meeting and called in to the meeting to cast her votes.

An attorney for the school district previously said the vote was allowable under the state’s open meetings law.

The second complaint, also dismissed by the ethics commission, alleged school board Vice-Chairwoman Eshe’ Collins made “derogatory comments” during the same March school board meeting. The ethics commission also dismissed that complaint.