Schools

Buckhead BOE Member Explains 'No' Vote on Davis Contract Extension

Buckhead's representative on the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education was one of the two dissenting votes to not extend the superintendent's contract.

Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Errol Davis' contract has been extended for up to 18 months, following the Board of Education's vote on Monday. However, Buckhead's BOE representative Nancy M. Meister, who along with Brenda J. Muhammad cast the lone dissenting votes, is determined to find a new superintendent for the district.

Davis' contract extension comes with a provision: if the board finds a permanent superintendent and hires him or her, Davis' contract expires after 90 days.

Meister, along with other board members, is set to review this week the proposals from search firms who will help hire the next district superintendent.

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She said Davis was initially brought in during a time of crisis, when the district was dealing with the district-wide cheating scandal, and it's "time to move on and get someone permanent."

"We need to find a superintendent that fits our needs," Meister told Buckhead Patch.

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She said the district has too many interim titles. "We really need to move on and get out of this interim mentality."

"We need to do our job and get permanent people in there," Meister said.

She admits that although she disagrees with Davis' recent decisions regarding removal and/or reassignment of North Atlanta High's principal and academy leaders, she said her vote to not renew his contract wasn't based completely on those changes at North Atlanta.

"I don't agree with what he did at North Atlanta," she said, adding that she also questions other personnel decisions he has made that she cannot discuss publicly.

But she is representing the 400,000 students in the district as well, she said, and despite the recent changes, "North Atlanta (High) will be fine. I know North Atlanta will be fine."


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