Suspended DeKalb School Board Members Attain Reinstatement Hearings

May 30th, 2013

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Five suspended members of the DeKalb County school board appeared in court Thursday. Administrative Law Judge Max Wood scheduled individual reinstatement hearings for the members. All five have petitioned the governor to regain their seats.

The same law that allows Gov. Deal to remove school board members also allows the board members to re-apply for their jobs. But the constitutionality of that law will be challenged in a case to be heard by the state Supreme Court Monday. However, Judge Wood scheduled the hearings anyway.

“Obviously, there is time, although [the Court doesn’t] necessarily work that fast, for them to issue a stay,” Wood said, “But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

The district was placed on accredited probation in December due to poor board governance. The governor has since replaced the suspended members. The reconstituted board has received high praise from the head of the district’s accrediting agency, Mark Elgart, who spoke at a DeKalb graduation last week.

“I had the opportunity to meet with them and believe that they’re very engaged,” Elgart said, “They’re committed to their purpose and their role and are also in a process of learning how to do it effectively and are very impressive at this point.”

But Danielle Obiorah, an attorney for former board chair Eugene Walker, says that doesn’t mean the current board members should stay in place.

“Can Mark Elgart speak for all of the citizens of DeKalb County?” she asked, “It’s ridiculous that we would put so much power in the hands of one unelected individual. So, no, it’s not an indication of anything.”

Elgart is one of four witnesses the state will call on its behalf during the hearings. The other three witnesses were elected to the DeKalb school board in November. That’s shortly before Governor Deal issued the suspensions.

The hearings are scheduled to begin June 13. Afterwards, Judge Wood will make recommendations to the governor, who will have the final say.