In his  "state of the state" address to Gold Dome legislators last week, Ga. Gov. Nathan Deal (R) pledged to stand up to wayward state educational board members and hold unaccountable bureaucrats' feet to the fire in his stern determination to fix the state's woeful and troubled public education system.

Deal put his money where his mouth is just five business days later by appointing two powerful liaisons to keep him abreast of the school board member debacle that is threatening to further rip apart the failing Atlanta Public School (APS) system. Deal tabbed House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams (D-Atlanta) and Republican lawyer Beth Beskin, who tried unsuccessfully to unseat Democrat state senator Horacena Tate (D-38) in November, as his "eyes and ears" to keep him abreast of the board's progress -- or further digression. The unlikely duo of Abrams and Beskin – sort of like the "Odd Couple" -- will also be responsible to keep downtown lawmakers well informed.

Abrams and Beskin were given full authority to attend all APS board meetings and any meetings with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the agency that put the school system on academic probation, and then report back to the governor on the progress the school district is making.
 
"I am calling on these two leaders to work on behalf of Atlanta’s children," said Deal. "This week I met with the members of the Atlanta delegation and I will make every effort to ensure that our children aren't harmed by the adults who failed them."

DEAL TO BOARD: DON'T TEST MY PATIENCE WHEN KIDS ARE INVOLVED
Upping the ante, the former Congressman says he'll not hesitate to initiate legislative action against the Atlanta school board "as a last resort" if the city’s warring and bickering school members don't figure out how to regain full accreditation for Atlanta's high schools.

"It behooves us all to try to work cooperatively,” Deal said, adding that he wanted to give board members "every opportunity to show us they can do what SACS set in place." After meeting with legislators on Wednesday, several in attendance said they all agreed in principal that the board must work in unison to successfully meet a Sept. 30 deadline imposed by the SACS to gain full accreditation back and be removed from probationary status.

SACS accredits all of Atlanta’s public high schools. The accrediting organization, which oversees standards for thousands of schools primarily in the south, placed the system on probation on January 18 due to suspect governance by the board and maintained that Atlanta's school board members have to make progress on "six required actions…to improve its leadership and performance…"

The SACS' edict calls for the Atlanta school board to work on a long-term community outreach plan, with more parental input; to seek outside mediation among board members to resolve their communication and personality differences; strict adherence to board policies and procedures, especially those related to ethics and chain of command; more emphasis on policies that are student-centric; an open and transparent superintendent search that involves the public; and a legislative review of the board’s governing charter.

Under fire for being asleep at the switch during Atlanta's alleged test cheating scandal, Atlanta School Superintendent Dr. Beverly Hall announced plans in November to vacate her post in June. Hall became the 15th appointed superintendent of APS in July of 1999.

FORT AND TAYLOR QUESTION SACS' MOTIVES

But at least two state lawmakers took a dim view of SACS' findings. State Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) and House Rep. Rashad Taylor (D-Atlanta) say the authenticity of SACS’ ruling and corresponding disciplinary actions need to be further scrutinized. They claim it's chock full of rumors, gossip and non-substantiated allegations. Fort fired off a salvo by blaming the Metro Atlanta Chamber for meddling and exerting undue influence in the report's findings.

Sources close to the situation say the ongoing bad press that is borne out of the test cheating fiasco and the board's unseemly lawsuits and power coups embarrasses the Atlanta Metro Chamber. Members maintain the ongoing mess hampers their ability to attract new business enterprises.

Fort says it has more to do with the Chamber's big members than the school system itself.

Infighting and finger pointing between the board’s nine members erupted in July when the press released details about an Atlanta test-cheating investigation involving 58 city schools.

Five members, constituting a majority, subsequently voted to alter the boards' rules that allowed them to unceremoniously strip the board's two primary leaders of their authority in a takeover coup. The "gang of five" then installed their chosen members as chair and vice-chair. 

The political gamble proved untenable when then state attorney general Thurbert Baker opined that it likely violated the board’s governing charter. The board’s toppled honchos promptly filed a lawsuit to reverse the vote and the feuding and name calling escalated.

The lawsuit was settled in November, with all sides agreeing to work with an outside consultant to resolve their internal squabbles. 

APS has until September 30 to comply.

It doesn't look like Deal is going to wait around to see what happens. His first moves indicate he's going to demand results. If the APS Board falls short, he'll likely take the matter into his own hands. 

THE SCOOP ON THE RPD'S NEW TOP GUN: MORE LIKE "POP-GUN"

Rank and file of police officers we talked to in Milledgeville, Georgia about their police chief, who has the inside tract for the Roswell Police Chief job, were not impressed with the guy. Notwithstanding that the city of Milledgeville is one-tenth Roswell's size, Roswell's leading candidate was referred to as "Sheriff Woody" and "Andy Griffith" by local cops who our reporters talked to, on the condition of anonymity. One Milledgeville official in court services said that "Chief Woody is just what Kay Love is looking for, a yes man, who delegates all responsibilities because he is a do nothing police chief."

LORI HENRY SAYS SHE'LL SIT THIS ONE OUT—BUT STAY INVOLVED

Two might be a charm for some but former Roswell Councilwoman Lori Henry says that's enough for her -- right now.

Henry, coming off two back to back electoral defeats -- she finished a close third for Roswell mayor in 2009 and then got hammered in a doomed race for Fulton County Commission against Robb Pitts (D-At Large) in 2010 – told The Beacon she plans to sit out the upcoming 2011 election. "I will not be a candidate for public office in 2011" Henry said. The fiery former municipal legislator says she learned a lot from her two campaigns, both of which she called "grueling." Henry did not rule out electoral politics in the future.

But not running for anything this go around does not mean she'll be sitting on the sidelines, either. Hardly. Henry says she has two political goals in 2011: to help elect a more "engaged and informed" Roswell city council and to insure the defeat of Fulton County GOP Chairman Shawn Hanley, who is running for Georgia GOP state chairman against two other candidates. When asked which of Hanley's two opponents she favored, Henry said she was undecided. "Whoever has the best opportunity to defeat Hanley," Henry said. "His ascension to that post would not be good for the Republican Party and I will tirelessly work to defeat him."

Concerning Roswell city council, Henry maintained that although not a candidate herself, she would be very active in the upcoming city elections.

Although unconfirmed, we surmise that she will be looking for viable candidates to unseat embattled incumbents Becky Wynn and Rich Dippolito, both of which are highly vulnerable in 2011.