ATLANTA — Editor's note: The video in this story is from a previous report.
The search for a new superintendent for Atlanta Public Schools is being extended.
The Atlanta Board of Education announced on Tuesday that after careful consideration, it decided to extend the search and is working with a recruitment partner, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, to maintain the integrity of the search process.
This comes after an information breach about some of the candidates who applied for the role. According to a spokesperson for the board, when a candidate's name is revealed in the process, it can put them in a precarious situation while they are working in their current role. The purpose of the extension is to protect the candidates while doing what is best for the community and students involved.
The Atlanta Board of Education Chair, Erika Mitchell, emphasized the board's commitment to a secure and respectful hiring process.
"We bear a profound responsibility to our community, faculty and students to identify and appoint the most suitable candidate to fulfill our obligations," Mitchell stated. "We have to get this right."
Mitchell stressed the importance of continuing the search and reassuring that the APS community trusts the process. In general, the board said it is committed to a transparent and inclusive search process to find a superintendent who embodies and aligns with the qualities and vision for the district's success. Along with the recruitment partner, the board continues to use a community panel that includes leaders involved in the district, such as PTA members, parents, teachers, community members and more.
Dr. Danielle Battle was sworn in last August but only as a temporary leader. That appointment came after the last superintendent, Dr. Lisa Herring, joined the school board in a new role.
11Alive previously reported in March that the board had a timeline to announce a sole finalist in April or May. There was also a goal to have a superintendent in place by July 1.
While it's currently unknown how the extension may affect the July date, a spokesperson for the board did say the intent is to complete the hiring process in 2024.