An Atlanta Public Schools proposal to demolish the historic Lakewood Elementary building is being blasted as “shameful” by City planning staff in advance of a Jan. 12 review hearing.
Tag: Atlanta Public Schools
Posted inLatest News
APS recognizes baseball hall-of-famer by renaming academy
The school was previously named after Confederate General and Ku Klux Klan leader Bedford Forrest. By Allison Joyner On Wednesday, Atlanta Public Schools (APS) took another step to further distance its institutions from honoring problematic historical figures. The former Forrest Hill Academy — named after the Confederate General and Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford […]
Posted inLatest News
Reporter’s Notebook: Atlanta’s Comprehensive Development Plan – 14 of 25 NPUs oppose proposal
On Oct. 22, 2001, folk artist Howard Finster died. Finster is one of the South’s most revered self-taught artists, known for finding religion and artistry in everyday objects. One of his most famous works is Paradise Gardens, an oasis in Summerville, Ga., filled with Finster’s eccentric work. He also has a permanent exhibit in the […]
Posted inHannah Jones
The Trust for Public Land’s plan to use schoolyards as public parks
Can you walk to a park from where you live? How long does it take to get there? The City of Atlanta has 416 parks, according to the Trust for Public Land. That puts 72 percent of residents within walking distance of a park, higher than the national average of 55 percent, but still leaves 136,058 […]
Posted inLatest News
Rocked by payment scandal, Fulton Development Authority faces board shakeup
By John Ruch and Maggie Lee The Development Authority of Fulton County board has been rocked by a financial scandal at the very moment its membership is undergoing a reform-minded shakeup to include representatives of public school systems that are staunch critics of tax breaks DAFC grants to luxurious real estate projects. And more shakeups […]
Posted inLatest News
Reporter’s Notebook: Mercedes-Benz Stadium becomes FEMA vaccination site
The warm weather has officially arrived in Atlanta! If you’re searching for fun, COVID-safe ways to get outside, look no further. Residents looking to soak up some sunshine should consider visiting Oakland Cemetery for one of their Daffodil Days. Thousands of daffodils pop up each spring in the cemetery, and there’s even a guide to […]
Posted inLatest News
A message of self-worth, self-love being spread among Atlanta’s elementary pupils
Tucked inside a children’s picture book is a message of self-love and self-acceptance the authors are sharing with 30,000 pupils in Atlanta’s elementary schools, and which the authors hope will be the start of an online global movement.
Posted inLatest News
Atlanta schools consider some face-to-face instruction by Oct. 26
Public meetings and parent survey on the way.
Posted inColumns
An Open Letter to Dr. Lisa Herring, incoming superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools
These days are emotional for parents like me. My daughter is a high school senior and like many students across the country, she won’t get to experience her last day of school with her classmates and teachers. … Neither my mother nor I ever got the chance to graduate, so my daughter will be the first in our family. But we won’t be able to see her walk across that stage, and that’s something I have dreamed about since she was born.
Posted inLatest News
APS administrator picked as new Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta leader
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta has named David Jernigan as its new president and CEO.
Jernigan, deputy superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, will begin his new role on May 4. Jernigan will oversee the strategic direction and operation for the nonprofit, which operates in more than 20 locations in 10 counties in metro Atlanta.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
With sudden death Alvah Hardy, APS and Atlanta lose a true public servant
Life can be so fleeting.
That was the first thought that came to mind when Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen called me early Saturday afternoon to tell me Alvah Hardy had been killed in car accident Friday night.
Hardy was the executive director of facilities services for APS, and he was responsible for all the capital improvements underway at numerous schools across the city.
Posted inLatest News
Atlanta Public Schools leader offers some ideas about the future for the system
A fine arts school, maybe multi-year budgeting, and delegating power.
Posted inMain Slider
New state school scores illustrate the gaps in Atlanta student achievement
Atlanta as a school system looks pretty good on a new state report card — it made gains since the last report, while the state overall declined. But as anybody will tell you, that single city score hides gaps among schools.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Metro Atlanta charter school operator lands big grants to fuel ambitious growth plans
KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools is going through a rapid growth period. Already it is the largest charter school operator in the state of Georgia.
And thanks to its relationship with the Atlanta Public Schools and Fulton County, it has ambitious plans to grow even more.
Posted inLatest News
Poll: APS Superintendent Meria Carstarphen has strong voter support
An overwhelming percentage of voters with a child in the Atlanta Public Schools (75 percent ) support extending Superintendent Meria Carstarphen’s contract beyond June 30, 2020, according to a new poll by Landmark Communications Inc.
Posted inLatest News
Atlanta school board will not renew contract with Superintendent Meria Carstarphen
The board of Atlanta Public Schools will not renew its contract with Superintendent Meria Carstarphen.
Posted inColumns
A bolder path forward: Reflections on accelerating Milestones progress
By Guest Columnist ED CHANG, founding executive director of redefinED atlanta
Editor’s note: A full statement from the author on the decision by the Atlanta Board of Education to not renew the contract of Superintendent Meria Carstarphen was added to the bottom of the column shortly after the decision was announced.
Like so many of you, the back to school season is one of reflection for me. As a former teacher and principal, it has been a time to hold a mirror to myself to applaud past successes while also acknowledging failure and contemplating growth opportunities and future action.
Posted inColumns
Community leaders rally behind APS Superintendent Meria Carstarphen
An amazing coalition of leaders has formed to support extending the contract of Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen.
U.S. Congressman John Lewis (D-Atlanta) has become one of the most outspoken leaders on her behalf – sending a letter to members of the Atlanta Board of Education.
Posted inMaria's Metro
Atlanta needs to keep Meria Carstarphen as its school superintendent
Under the leadership of Superintendent Meria Carstarphen, the Atlanta Public Schools has experienced tremendous – and verifiable – gains over the past five years.
But, for reasons hard to explain, Carstarphen’s future in Atlanta is up in the air.
Posted inMaggie Lee
Fulton is undervaluing some commercial properties; so now what?
The people who are supposed to set the taxable value of Fulton’s buildings are “outgunned” by commercial property owners and hired experts, says a county commissioner.
