ATLANTA -- 11Alive News has learned that the lead investigator and author of the scathing report on cheating in the Atlanta Public School system will testify Friday before a grand jury considering criminal charges in the scandal.
Former Attorney General Mike Bowers conducted an exhaustive investigation into allegations of cheating in the school system. Bowers confirmed he is scheduled to testify before the grand jury Friday morning.
A spokesperson for the Fulton County District Attorney's Office says prosecutors are expected are expected to wrap up their case sometime Friday.
Mayor Kasim Reed responded Thursday afternoon to the grand jury probe into the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal.
"I said when I learned about the details of the APS cheating scandal, it was one of the 3 worst days that I've had in the office of Mayor. I think this is going to be a very difficult period. I think a lot of the facts are painful, are going to come out in the investigation. But we are turning the page and we are building a new system and reforming ourselves. But what we shouldn't do is run from this very bad chapter and never allow this kind of harm come to our kids again," Reed said at a news conference.
A reporter asked, "Do you think there should be multiple people indicted for this?"
"I'm going to leave that judgment to our DA and I'm not going to prejudge him," Reed said. "I know they are conducting a robust investigation. I think all of the facts are going to come out. They will be public and then I think we should make a judgment as a community as to what should happen. I haven't conducted the investigation so I'm not going to speak until the appropriate time."
"But do you think someone should be held accountable," the reporter asked.
"I think once we know what all of the facts are, then I think we should certainly hold individuals who are determined to be responsible, criminally if appropriate," Reed said.
Close to three dozen people will be targeted for indictment starting Wednesday in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal case.
State investigators initially implicated about 180 educators in the case. But they've narrowed it down to about 35 names. They're described as people who either completely refused to cooperate with investigators -- or who talked to investigators and tried to mislead them.
The grand jury is expected to spend three days interviewing witnesses in the APS cheating case, in which educators admitted changing scores on a student performance measuring test called the CRCT.
"There are a number of witness who have agreed to testify in this case," said Douglas County district attorney David McDade, who interviewed a half-dozen teachers who admitted to having an "erasure party" at a teacher's house. During the party, McDade says the teachers took students error-ridden tests, and changed the answers to enhance the scores, and the score of their school.
"To prepare for the examination of the conduct that occurred in my county, it became immediately clear to me there's more than sufficient evidence to move forward with criminal charges," McDade said.
The charges could reach the top -- including former Superintendent Beverly Hall, who ran the district for ten years and retired after the scandal was revealed; Hall's number two, Kathy Augustine; Michael Pitts, an area superintendent; And Millicent Few, former director of human resources. All of them have denied ordering cheating or even knowing about it.
Continuing Coverage of APS Cheating:
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