Charges Too Harsh for Former Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools

Beverly Hall, former Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools (APS), turned herself into the Fulton County Jail early Tuesday morning in regards to charges brought against her for the CRCT cheating scandal that rocked the city in 2008. Hall’s charges included racketeering; cheating; conspiring to cheat, or concealing cheating; and theft by taking. The court original set bond at $7.5 million, but later reduced it to $200,000. If charged, Hall faces up to 40 years in jail. The impact of the cheating scandal brought a lot of scrutiny to the city and the Atlanta Public School system, where many parents and local citizens worried about the effect this would have on education. Although cheating is inherently wrong and justice needs to be served, the charges brought against Hall are too harsh and arbitrary.

Hall and 32 other APS teachers and faculty are being treated like common criminals – not learned professionals who fell victim to increased pressures. Charges for malicious acts such as aggravated assault and battery are often prosecuted less aggressively than Hall’s. Former Mayor Shirley Franklin believes that the public has fallen prey to a mob mentality, stating, “Yes, cheating is awful. And so is conviction before a fair trial. I believe every accused person deserves a fair trial under a set of laws that promises to be just and balanced” ("Shirley Franklin: APS Indictments...", AJC.com). The charges and absurd amount of bail indicate that Hall and her counterparts are being judged before a hearing even takes place. The state is essentially cheating them by inappropriately assessing their charges.  The charges are inconsistent, with many of the accused facing different charges for similar crimes. The nature of this case does not justify these severe punishments. 

Willena Rogers



Hall Awarded for Cheating

Cheating is wrong in every context. It is the second moral that most of our parents instill in us as children after they teach us how to share. Apparently, Beverly Hall’s parents did not teach her the importance of being honest. Or maybe she chose to go against the grain. Whatever the case may be, the point still stands that her selfishness will have devastating effects on the children that fell victim to this scandal, not to mention the reputation of Atlanta Public Schools.

Hall’s success, which includes salary, bonuses, and recognition, among other things, was based on a lie. What is worse is the fact that she preyed on innocent children and was able to sleep at night. She not only stole money from the state each time she collected a check, but she also deprived each student of the remediation that they may have needed to be successful at the next level. Her decisions will have everlasting effects on every child that was passed along.

Willena claims that “the charges brought against Hall are too harsh…” I beg to differ. Hall’s bail should not have been reduced. According to 11alive, Hall took home over $500,000 in “performance pay” from 1999-2009 (this total does not include her base pay). Hall’s crimes cannot be compared to “aggravated assault and battery.” What she did is embezzlement. She should be stripped of every accolade, award, and title that she has been given since assuming the position as the Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools.

Lemuel A. Way