Wilbanks Terminated, Will Leave Gwinnett Schools 1 Year Early

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — Two weeks ago, longtime Gwinnett County School Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks announced that he wouldn’t seek a contract renewal, opening the door for his departure.

Thursday night, the school board pushed him through the door a year early.

Voting along party lines — three Democrats for, two Republicans against — the Gwinnett County Board of Education decided at its monthly meeting to terminate Wilbanks’ contract this summer. It originally was set to expire in June 2022, but a clause allows early termination with at least 90 days notice.

“Don’t feel sorry for me. I’ve had a great career,” Wilbanks said after the vote, as reported by The Gwinnett Daily Post. “I’ve worked with some of the finest people that exist, most of them here in this district … but there is a time for all things and sometimes it comes (to an end) maybe in a different way than you would like it to be, but I’m going to be OK.”

After Wilbanks spoke, everyone in the audience and all board members gave him a standing ovation, according to the Gwinnett newspaper.

Wilbanks, who is 78, has led Georgia’s largest school district since 1996, overseeing its development into one of the most respected in the state. As the county’s demographics have changed, though, Wilbanks' leadership has split community support, most recently over his handling of COVID-19 in Gwinnett County schools.

Although the school board could have kept Wilbanks longer, it chose instead to have a new superintendent in place in time for next school year.

"We explored every option, and this was the option that reached the majority consensus of the board and was done in collaboration with the superintendent," said Board Chairman Everton Blair, as reported by The Gwinnett Daily Post.

Wilbanks’ last day is July 31.

Read the story in The Gwinnett Daily Post.

Related: Wilbanks Won't Seek Gwinnett Schools Contract Renewal