Q: Has former Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Beverly Hall been charged with any wrongdoing in connection with the cheating scandal that occurred on her watch?
— David George, Atlanta
A: Hall was indicted and charged with racketeering in the 2009 APS cheating scandal. Hall and 34 others — including six principals, two assistant principals and six testing coordinators — were named in a 65-count indictment on March 29. Included in the other charges: two counts of influencing a witness, five of theft by taking, and the remaining counts concerned the crime of making false statements or writings. "Beverly Hall placed unreasonable emphasis on achieving targets; protected and rewarded those who achieved targets through cheating; terminated principals who failed to achieve targets; and ignored suspicious CRCT score gains," the indictment said. "As a result, cheating became more and more prevalent within APS." Their bonds initially ranged from $7.5 million for Hall and $4 million for Millicent Few, Michael Pitts, Sharon Davis-Williams and Tamara Cotman down to $200,000 for others, but most later were reduced through negotiations with Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Q: All the publicity about requirements for renewing driver’s licenses and wait times has omitted an important piece of information: How long before your birthday can you renew your license?
— John Williams, Decatur
A: A driver's license can be renewed up to 150 days before its expiration, Department of Driver Services spokeswoman Susan Sports told Q&A on the News in an email.
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