Part 2: City Organization Helps Fund Consultants For Excellence Project
The Atlanta branch of the consulting firm Bain and Company is providing support to APS as it moves through phases of The Excellence Project.
The Atlanta Committee for Progress or ACP consists of local executives and educators working to provide leadership on economic development in Atlanta.
Its board of directors and members includes a who’s who of CEOs and presidents as well as Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.
Georgia-Pacific CEO & President Jim Hannan chairs the committee.
He says committee members agreed to help APS.
“Generally the committee works with the Mayor on priorities for the city and that really is ad hoc in terms of what those priorities may be,” says Hannan.
Hannan says there’s no gray area when it comes to sensible support of a local public school district.
“In any community having a strong public school system with effective leadership, good results and all those things is critical to the long term success of the city and the region. I will tell that’s a pretty commonly shared view among leaders. ”
According to APS, Bain is providing $3 million dollars’ worth of pro bono work, but ACP is paying at least $1 million on behalf of the district for Bain’s consulting.
There is a connection with ACP and Bain.
Former Atlanta Chief Operating Officer Peter Aman is a partner with Bain & Company and is secretary for the Atlanta Committee for Progress.
APS associate superintendent Steve Smith calls support from ACP a positive collaboration.
“Education is economic development and the individuals who are members of the ACP understand the value of education and how that relates to economic development”
But not all intentions from far-reaching hands have been viewed in a positive light.
In the midst of the cheating scandal, a blue ribbon commission was established to investigate misconduct.
It too was comprised of business and education leaders all with ties to APS.
Their investigative findings were scrutinized, called woefully inadequate and led to a state investigation.
Emory University Professor Edward Queen directs leadership programs at the Center for Ethics.
“It is not a good practice to have people who kind of have a vested interest in the current situation or in the current leadership playing a major role in the investigation or analysis.”
But Professor Queen says there are some advantages to having businesses support worthy educational endeavors.
“I think it’s wise and prudent for business leaders to be concerned about the quality of education and to take an active role in trying to improve the quality education.”
Professor Queen has worked with APS concerning their own internal leadership issues.
As the Excellence Project moves forward, APS will meet with stakeholders for their input.
That includes teachers, administrators civic and business leaders.
As for ACP members, Chairman Jim Hannan says the committee leaves the analysis of the Excellence Project to the Atlanta Public Schools and ACP would have no input.
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