Gov. Nathan Deal today announced the names of the six who will replace the suspended members of the DeKalb County school board. The governor didn’t waste any time making it official.
[voice reciting] “…and I have met the residency requirements [repeated] of this office [repeated]. So help me God [repeated]. Congratulations.” [applause]
Sworn in by DeKalb Superior Court Judge Asha Jackson, five of the six new members took office just hours after the governor publicly announced their appointments.
Gov. Deal said he’d emphasized two points to the new board members. Because the six suspended members were ousted for governance problems, the governor said he asked the group to work cooperatively.
“… that they understand the importance of reaching some consensus on very difficult issues from time to time,” he said, ” I do not want governing to be a problem, and I have no reason to believe that it will.”
Deal said he also stressed the importance of working well with DeKalb’s new interim superintendent, Michael Thurmond.
In a matter of days, a 5-member nominating committee pared down a list of more than 400 applicants to the six new members. They are: John Coleman, Michael Erwin, David Campbell, Joyce Morley, Karen Carter and Thaddeus Mayfield.
Gov. Deal said they have varied backgrounds from business to education.
“Several of them have the very detailed experience in mediation and in efforts to reach reconciliation in very difficult circumstances,” he said.
The governor said he decided not to reinstate any of the suspended board members because he wants a “clean slate.” However, those members will have the opportunity to petition the governor to keep their seats.
After she was sworn in, new board member Karen Carter talked about why she applied for what some say is a difficult job.
“All jobs are difficult, but the idea is to get to work. And so as soon as you finish talking to us, we’re going to get to work,” Carter said.
However, it’s unclear when the next board meeting will be. Some board members estimate it would be the middle of next week. Now the entire DeKalb school board is new, including three members who were recently elected last November.
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