Author Archives: FactChecker

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners calls for a “transparent, inclusive and credible superintendent search process.” (see video here)

This Monday (Feb 2), the DeKalb School Board will discuss and vote on the process for continuing the search for a superintendent.  Last month, the administration brought one search firm, PROACT, to the board.  The board voted to approve PROACT, and the board has had no input into the search process since then.  As discussed in this superintendent search update, PROACT and the administration have been working together putting together times and schedules for public engagement sessions.
Yesterday (Jan 27), the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously came together and approved a resolution to ask the “DeKalb Board of Education to adopt a Superintendent search protocol that includes a Selection Committee of parents, leaders, and community members, to manage, guide, and recommend the best qualified candidate to be the Superintendent.”
The BOC echoed sentiments expressed by CEO Lee May who sent a letter to the school board recommending “the creation of a selection committee that would interview the list of candidates offered by PROACT.”  DeKalb’s Parent Council United has called for a process similar to the APS Superintendent Search Committee Framework where the committee managed the search firm and process.
The DeKalb Commissioners went on to declare the qualifications they would like to see in the next Superintendent saying, “DeKalb Board of Commissioners believes that the best qualified candidate must demonstrate a record of improved academic achievement in a school district of significant size and complexity, across all disaggregated, socio-economic groups.”
As of the superintendent search update in December, the board of education is split on the idea of a Superintendent Search Committee.
Question: Will DeKalb Schools live what it preaches on its letter head, “The school cannot live apart from the community”
Below is the resolution passed by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners below.

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

Resolution in Support of a Transparent and Inclusive Superintendent Search Process
Whereas:            the DeKalb County School District is currently engaged in defining the parameters for the search for the next Superintendent; and
Whereas:            the DeKalb County School District has historically maintained as an official position noted on its letterhead that, “The school cannot live apart from the community”; and
Whereas:            the next leader of the DeKalb County School District must have credibility with the broad community in order to be successful.
Therefore be it resolved               that the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners supports and encourages the DeKalb Board of Education to adopt a Superintendent search protocol that includes a Selection Committee of parents, leaders, and community members, to manage, guide, and recommend the best qualified candidate to be the Superintendent.
Be it further resolved that the DeKalb Board of Commissioners believes that the best qualified candidate must demonstrate a record of improved academic achievement in a school district of significant size and complexity, across all disaggregated, socio-economic groups.
Be it further resolved that the DeKalb Board of Commissioners believes that the Selection Committee should consist of representatives from each Parent Council, a representative from the Georgia Charter Schools Association, a parent or community leader from each school board district, selected by the school board member, and a PAGE representative.