Where does APS go from here? | News

It has been a week of key decisions and reluctant admissions for the Atlanta Public School system.

On Monday, Khaatim Sherrer El announced he will step aside as chair of the APS school board. Many close to the situation, from Mayor Kasim Reed on down, believe the move will be the first step in helping the school system keep its accreditation.

"This board has got a ways to go," reminded Julie Salisbury of the Step Up Or Step Down group, "and this new board is going to have to prove itself by being a consensus-driven leadership team."

Sherrer El made it clear Monday he was stepping down strictly because of external pressure. On Tuesday, Mayor Reed said he expected external support for APS to start coming back.

"I think you're gonna see the philanthropic community come off the sidelines," Reed said. "You will see the corporate community come off the sidelines, and I'm very confident the governor is prepared to support the APS board."

But then, Friday, in a totally separate matter, outgoing superintendent Beverly Hall made the admission, after numerous denials, that school educators helped students cheat on the 2009 CRCT's. Hall promised swift action would be taken when the investigation was complete; speaking as a parent, Salisbury said she was grateful that the system would be able to put the scandal in the past.

"Whatever we'll find, we'll find," she said, "and they will make changes and move forward."

Moving forward means leaving this dust cloud of a week behind. The school system will begin its search for a new superintendent, all while Sherrer El steps down, all while the CRCT investigation finishes up.

Perhaps at some point down the road, just maybe, the system might get the fresh start it has hoped to see.