Category Archives: Board Meetings

Last December the Board of Education approved “HYA” (Hazard, Young, Attea Executives Search Division) to assist the District in its search to fill positions including but not limited to those within the Superintendent’s proposed reorganization in a total amount not to exceed $150,000.

ReOrganizations To Date
  Phase I – (DEC 2015)
  Phase II – (MAR 2016)
  Phase III – (APR 2016)
AJC Articles
Recently, the AJC published a number of critiques of Superintendent Green regarding his use of the search firm.
DeKalb Schools pick its own workers while spending $100,000 for search – (APR 4, 2016)
Dekalb Schools spends $100K to find workers already in place – (APR 5, 2016)
DeKalb school superintendent: Search firm’s role was valuable – (APR 5, 2016)
Search Firm Update
One board member was quoted in the AJC saying, “I always had the concern that we’re spending this kind of money, and you brought your own people in anyway. Why did you do the search? We need to be looking at how we’re spending the money.”
The quote from the board member was curious because she has never formally requested an update.  I thought it was important to understand the facts about the situation (seek to understand), so I requested a Search Firm Update from the administration.
Question: The board approved up to $150K. As of Nov 30 2015, the district expended $85K of the approved $150K. How much have we expended as of the latest financial report?
Answer from Michael Bell (CFO) – As of the latest financial report that will be presented to the board at the [April 18] meeting, of 4/18/2016, (February Financial Report) the total expended amount is $88,964. The monthly financial report for March includes an additional expenditure of $22,000 which will be included when the March report is presented. The February amount is also indicated in the Vendor Spends Report for the month ending February 2016.
Question: What positions has “HYA” assisted with filling?
Answer from Dr. Brad Draeger (HYA Representative):

• Chief Legal Officer
• Director of Charter Schools, School Governance, and Flexibility
• Chief Human Capital Officer
• Executive Director of Student Advancement
• Chief Communications and Community Relations Officer
• Chief Academic and Accountability Officer
• Executive Director of Special Education
• Lakeside High School Principal

Question: HYA fees include advertising and candidate travel/expenses/background checks. Can we get a breakdown of the expenditures for every position HYA sought to fill by category (advertising, candidate expenses, background checks, etc …)?
Answer from Dr. Brad Draeger (HYA Representative):

Question: What candidates have we hired that HYA brought to us?
Answer from Dr. Brad Draeger (HYA Representative): HYA has worked and/or is working with DCSD to secure the following positions:

• Chief Legal Officer, Jennifer Hackemeyer
• Director of Charter Schools and School Governance, Laura Stowell
• Chief Human Capital Officer, Dr. Leo Brown
• Executive Director of Student Advancement, Manomay Malathip
• Chief Communications and Community Relations Officer, Eileen Houston-Stewart
• Chief Academic and Accountability Officer, [Lisa Martin]
• Executive Director of Special Education, [Chezia Calloway]
• Lakeside High School Principal, Search is ongoing

Question: Is there anything else you can tell us about HYA’s services?
Answer from Dr. Brad Draeger (HYA Representative):
 Letter of Agreement
  Contract Addendum