Atlanta Public Schools turnaround plan

ATLANTA - “No take over, no turnaround, APS will not go down!” chanted protesters outside the Atlanta Public School headquarters. Parents and teachers are in an uproar over a plan to turn around the school district.

Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen's plan calls for major changes in the district's 26 lowest performing schools. Some schools will merge, others like Bethune Elementary, will close.

An APS spokeswoman told FOX 5 News the plan would affect 400 educators, including 178 teachers. Many would have to reapply for jobs within the district.

Dr. Carstarphen said it's a radical plan but one that is needed to turnaround the district after one of the nation's biggest cheating scandals.

“I think I was recruited to come here to do a turnaround, this board was elected to make significant changes in the district,” said Dr. Carstarphen.

During the first opportunity for public comment about the plan Monday evening, many parents and teachers asked the board not to approve the plan, saying they wanted to keep their neighborhood schools. Others voiced concerns about their local schools becoming charter schools.

The President of the Georgia Association of Educators, Sid Chapman questioned part of the plan. He said “The part about closing and merging of schools to equal smaller class size. That doesn't add up to me.”

School officials have planned several other meetings over the next five weeks to give parents and teachers a chance to find out more about the plan. The board is slated to vote on it March 7th.