Atlanta Board of Education Member Propose Policy Change

By a 5 to 4 vote, the school board proposed making it easier to remove a school board officer which includes the board chair.

If approved, it would only require a majority vote instead of two-thirds majority to remove a board officer.

Board chair LaChandra Butler Burks says this was the first time any policy change has been proposed in the 5 years she's been on the board.

BUTLER-BURKS:

“I'm not quite sure how it all happen but if we have people who want to add things to the agenda our charter states that it takes 3 board members to add agenda item and I received that request as board chair so it was added on the agenda”

The 5 board members supporting the change appeared to have worked out an agreement ahead of time Burks says they were within their rights:

BUTLER-BURKS:

“one of the things we have as part of our board norms and values that we adopted and crafted together as a board is that (you know) when the majority of the board speaks we all support that”

But Burks says she was not aware of the proposal before the meeting and she voted against it.

Burks is also not clear whether or not the amendment is even legal according to the school board's charter:

BUTLER-BURKS:

“so we have also asked our general counsel to look at our charter and offer a legal opinion if this goes against the charter and of course if it does go against the charter the charter takes precedent”

The amendment was proposed by Brenda Muhammad.

According to district spokesperson Keith Bromery, all interview requests regarding the board are typically addressed by the board chair.

Thus, Muhammad would not be made available for comment.

Brenda Muhammed is a PBA board member and WABE is broadcast service of the Atlanta Public Schools.