APS Board extends Superintendent Erroll Davis' contract - KMSP-TV

The Atlanta Board of Education approved a contract extension for interim Superintendent Erroll Davis on Monday.  The board voted 7-2 to offer Davis an 18-month contract extension, but the deal also includes early termination options.

The new deal allows the board to fire Davis if there is a 5-4 vote to do so. He can also be terminated when a permanent superintendent is located and hired, giving Davis 90 days to vacate the job.

"So we're really just making sure when we go out and look for a superintendent -- we have to do that in the next year to two years no matter what -- and so we want to make sure that if we find that candidate, that we really are prepared to move the candidate in and Mr. Davis is fully on board with it," said APS Board Chairman Reuben McDaniel.

The vote ended a frustrating night for some audience members. Before approving the extension, the board went through six different amendments of various time frames and options.

The majority of parents who spoke before the APS board on Monday said they supported Davis, crediting him for restoring ability to the struggling district.

Davis, a former University Systems chancellor, came out of retirement to take the job.  At that time, APS was in chaos and crisis after a nationally publicized cheating scandal. Its accreditation was even at risk.  

"Certainly it's been an arduous task for Erroll Davis to come in on the heels of this. He took it on and a lot of people would not have done that. I think that he has shown that he wants really truly wants equity. He has shown engagement. Whether parents believe it or not, he has been approachable. He has had back to back meetings. He answers all of his e-mails," said Shawnna Hayes-Tavares.

Others said they were angry with Davis' decision to remove the entire administrative team at North Atlanta High School this fall.

"While much of what the superintendent has done has been positive and we have never disagreed with that, the events of October 5 have called into question his leadership skills and his ability to govern free from political influence," said one woman.

The nine-member school board had delayed the vote on Davis' contract on two other occasions. The extension required a super majority of at least seven votes.

Davis himself was not present for the vote. He left the meeting early to go on an undisclosed trip.

The new contract goes into effect in June and pays Davis $240,000 a year.