Deal Signs Legislation Allowing Him to Remove APS School Board Members

Gov. Nathan Deal on Wednesday signed legislation allowing him to remove Atlanta school board members if APS does not achieve full accreditation by July.

“With the General Assembly out of session and a special investigation report forthcoming, it is essential that we have the necessary tools to ensure that Atlanta’s children are protected,” said Deal, according to a press release posted on the Governor's Office website. “I made a promise earlier this year that I would not allow the future of these children to be harmed by adults who have failed them, and I will keep this promise.

“It is my hope that the district will take the appropriate steps to move forward in order to avoid a sad and embarrassing situation," Deal said in his statement. "We all benefit if this is resolved locally by elected officials in Atlanta. But we have seen the horrific consequences of schools that lose their accreditation."

The Legislature approved SB 79, sponsored by Buckhead Rep. Ed Lindsey in the House, in response to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools placing the APS high schools on accreditation probation in January. AdvancED, SACS' parent organization, gave the school board six requirements to meet according to a timetable.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed approved SB 79, but it was opposed by Democratic Sens. Vincent Fort and Horacena Tate, who threatened a lawsuit against the legislation.

The new law says the State Board of Education must hold a hearing if APS does not regain full accreditation by July 1, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The board will make a recommendation to the governor on how to proceed and Deal could then make a decision.

Deal said in his statement after the signing, "I believe in the sanctity of the ballot and the power of the people to elect their leaders. For me, removing elected officials would be a last resort.

"But with the future of Atlanta’s students hanging in the balance, I believe it is better to be prepared with more options on the table than with less," he said. "Signing this bill into law is not a time for celebrating; it is a time for Atlantans to come together to work constructively so that the powers given to the governor’s office in this bill never have to be used."

He said that he, along with his APS liaisons and Reed, "look forward to upcoming discussions with the school board as we work together with the best interest of Atlanta’s students at heart.”

Lindsey, in commending Deal for the swift signing of the legislation, said in a statement, "This bill provides a vital safety net for the 49,000 students and parents of the Atlanta Public School System. It is my sincere hope that the members of the Atlanta Board of Education over the next few months will continue down the path to restoring full accreditation. However, if they once again stray from their fiduciary duty to their students, the state now has the tools to protect Atlanta’s next generation.”

Following the AdvancED accreditation probation announcement, Deal contacted Reed and the Atlanta legislative delegation, as the release cites. He also appointed two liaisons, House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams and Beth Beskin, a community leader in Atlanta, to monitor the school board’s progress in meeting the SACS requirements.

The APS board has not responded directly to the legislation. But board Chairman Khaatim Sherrer El issued a statement saying that the board is making progress in meeting the requirements. Here is a o his statement in a previous Buckhead Patch article.