Atlanta Board of Education District Races Preview: District 1

Seven of the nine district seats are contested.

WABE’s Rose Scott previews each district race, beginning with APS District One.

Broadcast version of this story.

The two candidates are incumbent Brenda Muhammad and first-time challenger Leslie Grant.

Muhammad has served on the board for fourteen years and says picking the next school chief is critical.

“To make sure we select thee superintendent that is transformational, that can take this system into a new era who is concerned about all the children across this city.”

Grant, a business woman and mother of an APS student, says it’s time for a change in District One’s board member.

“We need leadership on the board going forward that can work collaboratively and responsibly with a new superintendent.  We need leadership that can put together a trustworthy board that will attract a really high quality superintendent.”

District One includes Carver, Grady and Maynard Jackson High Schools.

Each has middle and elementary schools that feed into its cluster.

Muhammad says many schools below Interstate 20, those on the south west and south east sides, have struggled.

She adds the previous APS administration did not direct enough resources to those areas.

“You see we traditional had a cookie cutter approach to how we service our children and that does not necessarily work in all schools and it certainly doesn’t work in many of the schools in our impoverished areas.”

Leslie Grant says those assets are needed in the classroom and beyond.

“District One is a perfect example of the whole city of Atlanta, I believe. We have a great diversity in district one.  But, the kids come to school with many different levels of needs in higher poverty level. Those children need a lot more resources.”

Grant says she supports those charter schools that are doing a good job in educating students and  wants voters to know she’s for a quality education across the region.

There are a handful of charter schools in District One.

Muhammad told WABE she supports the will of the district.

* Brenda Muhammad is currently on the board of directors for Public Broadcasting Atlanta.

WABE’s broadcast license is held by the Atlanta Board of Education.