School ends alternate ed program

Steve Schulwitz

After an internal investigation by Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Teresa Stauffer, the Atlanta Board of Education determined alternate education Director Elven Duvall would be removed from his current positions for unprofessional conduct and insubordination. Furthermore the board also voted unanimously to pull the plug on the alternate education program itself at the end of the first semester, Jan. 16.

The school system appointed attorney Ray Davis from the Thrun Law Firm as a hearing examiner for the due process hearing concerning Stauffer's request to terminate Duvall's employment.

The investigation revealed Duvall was providing students with answers on their GED tests and in several instances, completing the tests for them.

"The first complaint was from a girl who had left some of her answers blank," board President Janette Sarkozi said. "She was told to go to lunch and when she came back to resume the test, the answers were filled in. She informed us, because she wanted to pass the test herself."

Another student twice had failed the reading section of the GED badly. The third time the test was submitted she scored 550 out of 600 possible points. The score differential raised red flags to the staff, which also noticed the handwriting was not that of the girl, but Duvall's.

"The whole matter was resolved very quickly and in the long run the proposals Teresa brought us will help the students who are struggling," Sarkozi said. "I think everything is out in the open now and we can move on."

The alternate education program itself has been a cause of concern for Stauffer and the board. There are questions remaining about attendance numbers. In the end, a decision was made by the board to close up shop.

"The closing has been coming since last year," Sarkozi said. "We have been concerned it wasn't being run properly and didn't know if it was in compliance with state regulations. If it wasn't, the state could have stepped in and closed it for five years."

The students have the option of transferring to Atlanta High School for the second semester if they choose. There, they will take regular classes and several online courses. As it stands now, five students are on track to graduate this spring.

"We want to do what is best for the kids, Sarkozi said. "We didn't feel the alternate education program was functioning correctly and the kids weren't learning the life lessons the way they needed to be."

At least one teacher who was involved in the program will be moving to the high school. Math teacher Crystal Horrocks will join some of her students when the second semester begins.

Sarkozi believes Duvall will put the incident behind him and stay away from legal action against the school and its governing body.

"I don't think there will be any fallout from him," Sarkozi said. "He requested an open public meeting and so we did. He didn't even show up. We went to his house to let him know what the board's actions were and he wouldn't answer the door. Time to move on."

Steve Schulwitz can be reached via e-mail at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689.