Power over Atlanta Public Schools shifted from old leaders to new blood as a result of this week’s election, with first-time representatives taking over a majority of the school board following years of scandal and infighting.
At least five of nine board members will be fresh to the role after four incumbents didn’t seek re-election and one was defeated Tuesday. A sixth newcomer could join the rest depending on the outcome of a runoff with school board Chairman Reuben McDaniel.
The rapid turnover creates an opportunity for change in an urban school district that has struggled to deliver academic results. Nearly half of its high-schoolers don’t graduate in four years, and standardized test scores show that students lag behind state and regional averages.
Incoming school board members have a unique window to set their agenda. After taking office in January, they’ll hire a superintendent early in the year, decide whether to create more charter schools and try to direct education money toward classrooms rather than administration.
These are major tasks in a system that suffered a national embarrassment when educator cheating was exposed and board members’ squabbles drew scrutiny from school accreditors. A state investigation released in 2011 said 185 teachers and administrators participated in a scheme to falsify student test scores, leading to criminal charges this year against 34 former educators.
“It’s been such a laugh that they couldn’t seem to get themselves together,” said Pamela Binnicker after voting Tuesday at Druid Hills Baptist Church. “I want somebody who knows what they’re doing.”
Board members — old and new — said they look forward to the challenge of trying to turn around the school system and move beyond its checkered past.
“It means a fresh start,” said Courtney English, who won re-election to a second term on a citywide seat. “Rarely in the life of any organization do you have a chance to reset everybody at the top. This is a remarkable opportunity we’ve got to seize. We can’t let this chance slip through our fingers.”
Most of the change on the board happened because four weary incumbents didn’t seek re-election. Of the remaining five incumbents, two won another four-year term on Tuesday, one lost her bid for re-election, one faces a runoff, and one kept his seat without being challenged by an opponent.
One of the board’s new faces, high school history teacher Matt Westmoreland, said voters wanted a balance between candidates with original perspectives and on-the-job experience. Westmoreland was unopposed in his east Atlanta race to succeed Cecily Harsch-Kinnane, who decided to step down.
“We can create four years that are going to be more kid-focused and more successful in terms of academic results,” Westmoreland said. “I really do believe that this new board is going to be able to be more collaborative and trustworthy of each other.”
The school board’s freshman class will include Westmoreland, three representatives to be determined in runoffs Dec. 3 and small-business owner Leslie Grant, who defeated incumbent Brenda Muhammad.
Another potential school board rookie, attorney Cynthia Briscoe Brown, could join the next generation of representatives depending on the outcome of her runoff with McDaniel for a citywide seat.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to wipe the slate clean — not to forget where we stand, but to use what’s in our past to propel us forward,” she said. “We will have no history of infighting, no personal vendettas or political agendas, no baggage. Among us as a group of nine, we’ll be able to discover our common goals and work together.”
McDaniel, who received 37 percent of the vote compared to Brown’s 26 percent in their five-way race, said voters decided on a mix of candidates based on their experience and educational priorities. Runoffs are required in races where no candidate won at least 50 percent of the vote.
“While we have fresh ideas coming in, there’s a need for some stability and institutional knowledge,” McDaniel said. “But you can’t have that much change and not expect to have a different operating style.”
Whether incoming representatives are incumbents or challengers, none of them will have been on the school board for long. Each of the incumbents has served one term or less, meaning no one is left from the board as it was composed in 2009.
Besides the contest between McDaniel and Brown, three other runoffs will introduce original candidates to the board.
In a citywide race, attorney Jason Esteves will compete against education business owner Lori James.
In west Atlanta, counseling center director Steven Lee will face academic coach Mary Palmer.
In south Atlanta, Georgia State University program director Eshé Collins will campaign against investment property manager Dell Byrd.
About the Author
