APS Board Members on the Process Behind Monday's Vote

Monday's marathon Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education meeting and the back and forth discussions among its members on how to extend Superintendent Erroll B. Davis Jr.'s contract seemed reminiscent of the old days when fighting seemed the norm.

But two board members, Cecily Harsch-Kinnane, whose district includes East Lake, East Atlanta, Kirkwood and Candler Park among other communities, and Courtney D. English, who is a citywide representative, say that's not the case.

What may have seemed like nitpicking was the board trying to reach consensus, and creating the framework for picking the next superintendent.

"You saw us go through a process of give and take, the give and take of democracy, if you will, and ultimately arrive at a conclusion that gives us stability in the short-term; it allows us to it aggressively look for a superintendent for the long term," English said.

Harsch-Kinnane said the ultimate goal was to end the sense of APS being in a state of limbo with respect to finding a permanent superintendent and that the board as a whole wanted to show it was acting responsibly to prepare the district both in the short- and long-term.

To hear our complete interviews, please click on the video link above.