SACS Warns Clayton County Schools
A regional accrediting agency this week sent a Letter of Concern to the Clayton County school board. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools said the behavior of some board members could put the district’s accreditation in jeopardy again. In the letter, SACS does credit the district for making progress since regaining their accreditation last year. However, Mark Elgart, the CEO of SACS’ parent company, cites concerns that the board “continues to operate with much conflict between and among board members.”
Dr. Pam Adamson, the chairman of the Clayton County school board, says the letter sparked concern.
“Obviously, we’re concerned,” she says, “I’m very concerned about that. However, let’s be clear about it. This does not relate to the board as a whole, it does not say it’s the board as a whole. It really relates to select board members.”
And, Adamson says, the board doesn’t have the autonomy to reign in those members.
“Board members are limited in their ability to prohibit or restrain the actions of other board members,” Adamson explains, “We do not have the ability to do a lot about it.”
The letter also expresses concern that the board hasn’t hired an outside firm to begin searching for a new superintendent.
Adamson says that’s a misunderstanding. She says the board has a relationship with the same firm, they used to hire the current superintendent. However, she says they have hired Glen Brock, a partner at the firm, to represent the district and is now an insider.
“The board has agreed, not by a formal vote or anything, it was just by consensus, that we would conduct this search ourselves with the right-at-the-elbow assistance of Brock-Clay, just like we did before,” she says.
The district has until January 15 to respond to the letter before SACS decides whether to investigate. Officials with SACS could not respond to requests for comment before deadline.
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