The Atlanta school board elected Reuben McDaniel, one of its members, as its new vice chairman Monday, completing a leadership change to help win back full accreditation.
The unanimous vote followed the board's election last week of Chairwoman Brenda Muhammad. Both moves came after a Fulton County judge allowed the board to accept the resignation of former Chairman Khaatim Sherrer El and former Vice Chairwoman Cecily Harsch-Kinnane.
Harsch-Kinnane could not attend last week's meeting, which is why the board waited until Monday to take action on her leadership post.
El and Harsch-Kinnane will remain regular members of the board, which was put on accredited probation in January for infighting.
"I do think it is in our best interests ... that we demonstrate as the Atlanta Board of Education that we can move forward," Harsch-Kinnane said. "We've done a lot of work. It's important this board take a further step forward."
Board members asked Superior Court Judge John J. Goger last week to release them from a portion of a consent order he issued last year. The order had required current leaders, including El, to remain in place until Dec. 31. The judge issued it during a lawsuit among board members.
El announced last month he would resign as chairman as long as the judge released the board from that timeline. El's and Harsch-Kinnane's resignations came as the board tries to coalesce behind new leadership.
Muhammad and McDaniel had been informally identified last month as the board's likely new leaders.
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