Hiring Freeze for Atlanta Public Schools

Atlanta Public Schools are under a hiring freeze at least until incoming Superintendent Meria Carstarphen takes over the district this summer.

Schools Superintendent Erroll Davis wrote in a Wednesday memo to his senior cabinet that the hiring freeze excludes hiring for positions that directly affect student engagement, such as teachers, principals, bus drivers, food service workers and custodians, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

“I appreciate that the hiring freeze may pose a challenge for some departments; however, at this critical juncture, it is important that all employees understand that they will be expected to take on additional work assignments, if necessary, to compensate for unfilled positions,” Davis wrote. “While the situation is not ideal, it is necessary at this time.”

Davis also wrote that he has frozen all purchases of items over $1,000, the paper reported, with the exemption of existing commitments such as contracts, requests for proposals and other written agreements.

The Atlanta Board of Education is working to finalize a $658 million budget for next school year.