School staff cleared of racism, grade-changing allegations

ATLANTA — It has been a challenging year for students and parents at North Atlanta High School. The old principal got fired. The school moved into a controversial $150-million new facility. Then, the new principal suddenly resigned last week, but had a change of heart just days later.

All of this happened under the cloud of a district investigation into allegations of systematic racism and improper grade changing.

Through an open records request, Channel 2 Action News obtained a copy of the Atlanta Public Schools Office of Internal Compliance's final report on its investigation into those allegations.

The report cleared school leaders and staff of breaking any laws.

However, on Friday, Channel 2 investigative reporter Aaron Diamant spoke with parents and district leaders about the "climate of racial tension" auditors found.

"Not knowing what the report was going to say has kept that wound open and festering," said parent Cynthia Briscoe Brown. "I do think that it vindicates our feeling that there was not a systemic, endemic problem at this particular school."

APS Superintendent Erroll Davis declined an on-camera interview Friday, but the district issued the following statement through a spokesperson:

"Atlanta Public Schools has received the independent auditor's investigative summary report on allegations of racial discrimination and grading improprieties at North Atlanta High School.

"The nature of the complaints substantiated the need to initiate this investigation. The report indicates that no laws were broken. However, it raised issues that should have been addressed.

"Now in place is a new principal, who has already begun to work on the issues, and we are confident that we can all return to the business of educating children."

WSBTV