DeKalb School Board Lifts Cap on Lewis’ Legal Expenses

The DeKalb County school board this week lifted the $100,000 cap on legal expenses for former superintendent Crawford Lewis, who’s been indicted on racketeering charges. The board approved the measure in a 5-3 vote. Beforehand, school board chair Eugene Walker explained that there would be no public discussion of that or another $300,000 legal settlement approved by the board.

“We have discussed these cases in executive session, so these are not cases we discuss in public,” he said, “The questions, hopefully, have been asked and answered to the extent possible in executive session, so [we] are not just rubber stamping.”

Future legal expenses for Crawford will be approved on a monthly basis. The fees are part of a lawsuit filed by former district contractor Heery/Mitchell. The case has cost DeKalb taxpayers $37 million so far.