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Confusion in Atlanta as Educators Are Set to Be Jailed Atlanta Educators Are Set to Be Jailed, but Chaos Interferes
(about 1 hour later)
ATLANTA — Confusion, anger and charges of racism played out at the Fulton County Jail here on Tuesday as the players on both sides of the nation’s largest school-cheating scandal began the arduous process of jailing 35 educators.ATLANTA — Confusion, anger and charges of racism played out at the Fulton County Jail here on Tuesday as the players on both sides of the nation’s largest school-cheating scandal began the arduous process of jailing 35 educators.
A grand jury on Friday charged the group with essentially running a conspiracy in which standardized test scores were secretly increased as a way to get bonuses and ensure job security.A grand jury on Friday charged the group with essentially running a conspiracy in which standardized test scores were secretly increased as a way to get bonuses and ensure job security.
As the day unfolded, however, it became clear that the judicial system was unprepared for the initial stages of the prosecution.As the day unfolded, however, it became clear that the judicial system was unprepared for the initial stages of the prosecution.
The teachers, principals and administrators, among them the former school superintendent, Beverly L. Hall, were told they had to report to jail by Tuesday, at which time they could argue to have bail amounts as high as $7.5 million reduced. An unusually large turnout of news crews showed up before dawn waiting for the first of the accused to arrive.The teachers, principals and administrators, among them the former school superintendent, Beverly L. Hall, were told they had to report to jail by Tuesday, at which time they could argue to have bail amounts as high as $7.5 million reduced. An unusually large turnout of news crews showed up before dawn waiting for the first of the accused to arrive.
By midafternoon, only seven of the defendants had shown up. Their lawyers, saying they were baffled by what appeared to be a lack of coordination between District Attorney Paul L. Howard Jr., the jail and the courts, were working to try to reduce the amount of bond set for teachers who had no criminal records and to keep them from spending more time in jail than they had to.By midafternoon, only seven of the defendants had shown up. Their lawyers, saying they were baffled by what appeared to be a lack of coordination between District Attorney Paul L. Howard Jr., the jail and the courts, were working to try to reduce the amount of bond set for teachers who had no criminal records and to keep them from spending more time in jail than they had to.
One of the earliest educators to arrive was Theresia Copeland, 56, who had been testing coordinator at a southeast Atlanta elementary school. She walked into the jail at about 7 a.m. and was booked on a $1 million bond on charges of racketeering, theft and making false statements.One of the earliest educators to arrive was Theresia Copeland, 56, who had been testing coordinator at a southeast Atlanta elementary school. She walked into the jail at about 7 a.m. and was booked on a $1 million bond on charges of racketeering, theft and making false statements.
“We’ve never had anything in education like this,” said Warren Fortson, an attorney for her and two other accused teachers. Mr. Fortson has been a lawyer for the Atlanta school district for 22 years in the 1970s and 1980s.“We’ve never had anything in education like this,” said Warren Fortson, an attorney for her and two other accused teachers. Mr. Fortson has been a lawyer for the Atlanta school district for 22 years in the 1970s and 1980s.
“Al Capone, I understand, didn’t have to post a $1 million bond,” he said. “I don’t think a Cobb County grandmother needs $1 million to secure her.”“Al Capone, I understand, didn’t have to post a $1 million bond,” he said. “I don’t think a Cobb County grandmother needs $1 million to secure her.”
Ms. Copeland and others face a total of 65 charges in a cheating scandal that first came to light in 2009. A team of state-appointed investigators spent 21 months looking into allegations that teachers and administrators at a handful of Atlanta schools changed test scores routinely or gave students correct answers. That report became the basis for the criminal charges issued Friday.Ms. Copeland and others face a total of 65 charges in a cheating scandal that first came to light in 2009. A team of state-appointed investigators spent 21 months looking into allegations that teachers and administrators at a handful of Atlanta schools changed test scores routinely or gave students correct answers. That report became the basis for the criminal charges issued Friday.
At the top of the indictment list was Dr. Hall, the former superintendent, who retired in 2011. She was charged with racketeering, theft, influencing witnesses, conspiracy and making false statements.At the top of the indictment list was Dr. Hall, the former superintendent, who retired in 2011. She was charged with racketeering, theft, influencing witnesses, conspiracy and making false statements.
The grand jury told prosecutors she should be held on a $7.5 million bond, Mr. Howard said.The grand jury told prosecutors she should be held on a $7.5 million bond, Mr. Howard said.
But David Baily, one of her lawyers, said in an interview on Tuesday that his client had never seen paperwork to that effect. He and the rest of her legal team were spending the day scrambling to arrange a lesser bond amount, or possibly a signature bond, and did not know when she would be arriving to be processed.But David Baily, one of her lawyers, said in an interview on Tuesday that his client had never seen paperwork to that effect. He and the rest of her legal team were spending the day scrambling to arrange a lesser bond amount, or possibly a signature bond, and did not know when she would be arriving to be processed.
To get a bond reduced, someone could strike a deal with the district attorney or ask a superior court judge for a bond modification hearing, said a spokeswoman for the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Tracy Flanagan.To get a bond reduced, someone could strike a deal with the district attorney or ask a superior court judge for a bond modification hearing, said a spokeswoman for the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Tracy Flanagan.
The bond for at least one of the seven educators who had turned themselves in by early afternoon had been reduced to $50,000.The bond for at least one of the seven educators who had turned themselves in by early afternoon had been reduced to $50,000.
As she has from the beginning of the investigation in 2009, Dr. Hall denied any knowledge of cheating.As she has from the beginning of the investigation in 2009, Dr. Hall denied any knowledge of cheating.
“We have faith in the justice system, and she has faith the courts will do what’s right,” Mr. Baily said.“We have faith in the justice system, and she has faith the courts will do what’s right,” Mr. Baily said.
If convicted, Dr. Hall could face up to 40 years in prison.If convicted, Dr. Hall could face up to 40 years in prison.
While defense lawyers worked to have their clients freed, a group of black clergy members and former educators spoke out, calling the charges and the bail extreme and an indication of a deeper, long-simmering racial divide in the city and the state.While defense lawyers worked to have their clients freed, a group of black clergy members and former educators spoke out, calling the charges and the bail extreme and an indication of a deeper, long-simmering racial divide in the city and the state.
The Rev. Timothy McDonald, a local pastor and spokesman for the group Concerned Black Clergy, noted that the investigators were white and the accused were largely black.The Rev. Timothy McDonald, a local pastor and spokesman for the group Concerned Black Clergy, noted that the investigators were white and the accused were largely black.
“Look at the pictures of those 35. Show me a white face,” he said. “Let’s just be for real. You can call it racist, you can call it whatever you want, but this is overkill. We have seen people with much deeper crimes with much less bond set.”“Look at the pictures of those 35. Show me a white face,” he said. “Let’s just be for real. You can call it racist, you can call it whatever you want, but this is overkill. We have seen people with much deeper crimes with much less bond set.”