DeKalb School District Improves Accreditation Status

“I would tell you a year ago, this system was closer to losing accreditation than retaining it,” Elgart said. “However, a lot has happened in a year.”

Elgart spoke for about 25 minutes. Then he took questions. The first came from DeKalb Superintendent Michael Thurmond.

“I think I heard it, but did you just say we were no longer on accredited probation?” Thurmond asked.  

The last year was a tumultuous one in DeKalb. Thurmond signed on as interim superintendent right before Gov. Nathan Deal replaced two–thirds of the school board. The district was running a deficit and had a tight timeline to complete 11 required actions mandated by SACS.

Tuesday, Elgart credited Thurmond and the new board with completing eight of those actions and tightening the district’s finances.

“They should be proud of what they’ve accomplished to date,” Elgart said. “They’ve gone further than we’ve anticipated. However, the journey ahead is still significant. They are not out of the woods.”  

Elgart said SACS will monitor DeKalb every six months for the next few years. Gov. Deal, who attended the announcement, said the SACS review affirmed his decision to replace the six squabbling board members.

“I hope the message that it is important to put aside these personal agendas and work together has been received by everybody,” he said. “I have to think that it has been.”

Elgart says the key to the district’s success will be creating sustainable leadership practices. He says that sustainability could be affected by the outcome of the upcoming school board elections in November.