Atlanta’s school board Tuesday overruled Superintendent Erroll Davis’ move to promote North Atlanta High School Principal Howard “Gene” Taylor, who resigned last week before being lured back.
Taylor led the 1,600-student school for less than a year before quitting because of frustrations with the school district’s management.
Davis’ effort to make him executive director for the school system’s North Region was a way for Taylor to stay in Atlanta Public Schools in a position with the power to correct some of the administrative problems he faced.
But the Atlanta Board of Education wanted a more thorough application process before deciding on a new North Region director, board Chairman Reuben McDaniel said.
Taylor has an offer pending to stay as North Atlanta High’s principal, and he also can compete against other applicants if he wants the higher-ranking area director position, the board said.
Taylor last week submitted his resignation to take a job as principal at Berkmar High School in Gwinnett County, but Davis announced Monday that Taylor would stay in Atlanta in a position with oversight of about 20 schools. The school board’s action Tuesday negated Taylor’s promotion.
While the school board supports Taylor, McDaniel said, it wants to make sure the most qualified applicant becomes the executive director for Atlanta’s North Region.
The school board called an emergency meeting Tuesday to vote on Taylor’s appointment to the regional director position.
Board member Nancy Meister made a motion to approve Taylor’s new position, but none of the other seven board members present seconded her motion, effectively killing it.
About the Author
