'We Owe The Students' Interim Superintendent Tells Douglass High School Gathering Thursday

Vowing to end the "culture of fear and intimidation," Erroll Davis, Jr., the new interim superintendent of the Atlanta Public Schools, met for the first time with parents, teachers and community residents Thursday.

After brief comments about his role and the standardized test cheating debacle, Davis opened the floor to comments at the meeting, called by At-Large Board Member Courtney English, in the auditorium of Douglass High School, 225 Hamilton Holmes Dr.

On both main aisles of the auditorium, participants lined up and waited patiently for a chance to pose questions, which ranged from inquiries about testing and improvements in student preparation to parent involvement and educator advocacy.

As leader of the system since July 1st, Davis said he already is considering changes in the testing system.

"I don't think we should put as much weight on one high stakes exam," he said.

Davis also said he would emphasis morale-building for students and work to quickly rebuild the reputation of the school systems.

"Students did not cheat," said Davis, the former chancellor of the University System of Georgia. "Adults cheated. We owe the students."

On July 5, Gov. Nathan Deal released the findings of a state investigation into cheating on the 2009 Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT).

The state investigated test-taking at 56 Atlanta Public Schools and found 44 had evidence of cheating. The district has a total of 87 schools.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Davis earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 1965, and a M.B.A. in finance from the University of Chicago in 1967.

Prior to joining APS, he served as chancellor of the University System of Georgia, where he was responsible for the state’s 35 public colleges and universities, approximately 302,000 students, 40,200 faculty and staff, and an annual budget of approximately $6.3 billion.

Said Reuben McDaniel, the new vice chair of the school board, at the end of the meeting: "I can tell you this man is working hard, day and night, to make sure that we have qualified individuals in the classroom when we reopen on Aug. 8."