Education

Atlanta Board Of Education Looks Into Ethics Complaint

July 19th, 2017

The APS board launched a national search for a new superintendent in October.

Nick Nesmith / WABE

Atlanta’s Board of Education is looking into an ethics complaint against one of its members, Leslie Grant.

On Tuesday, the Board of Education’s Ethics Commission had its first meeting about the investigation, during which various witnesses were called to testify. But despite an earlier three-hour executive session, the commission still hasn’t made a decision.

“We’re just continuing the investigation. When we’re doing an investigation, we like to gather as many facts as we possibly can, and we’re in the process of fact gathering,” says Rebecca Pentz, who chairs the commission.

Grant is accused of sharing confidential information about a property the school system owns while negotiations were going on to sell it.

After the three-hour executive session Monday, board members emerged saying very little. Board chair Courtney English commented only that the board took no action during that meeting.

“There was no report from our executive session. The board took no action,” English said.

Pentz says the commission wants to take time to look at all the evidence carefully before making a decision.

“The statute requires it’s done within 60 days from the day of the complaint. And the day of the complaint, I believe, was June 6. So we need to have it wrapped up by early August,” Pentz says.

Specifically, she means Aug. 4. After the commission concludes its investigation, a recommendation will be given to the Board of Education, which will decide whether to adopt it.