DeKalb County Public Schools Superintendent Search Continues

As time runs out to have a new DeKalb County Schools superintendent in place by June, county leaders and residents are still grappling with the basics of the search process.

Leaders are seeking to replace Michael Thurmond, whose contract expires in June. At least one school board member has said publicly that DeKalb Schools have wasted valuable time, and others have criticized the openness of the search.

The DeKalb County Board of Education and PROACT Search will host six public forum meetings to develop criteria candidates for the position should have.

The school system that currently has a graduation rate of 66 percent or less in 11 high schools is in dire need of a strong leader, says Dunwoody councilwoman and parent of three Lynn Deutsch in an essay to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Deutsch criticized the Board of Education in November for its lack of urgency and “making a mess of the search for a permanent superintendent.”

The county’s Board of Education hired PROACT Search at the Dec. 17 meeting, according to DeKalb Schools Fact Checker. The company has been working with the board since December to find suitable candidates for the position. But members of the community have asked the administration to take a step back from the search process and allow a separate selection committee composed of stakeholders, including parents, board members, community representatives and business leaders, to take over.

DeKalb County’s Interim Chief Executive Officer Lee May has also weighed in on the process, agreeing with the need for a selection committee.

“This decision will help determine the future and quality of education in DeKalb for decades to come,” May said in a letter to the DeKalb Schools Board and Administration. “The quality of our school system has everything to do with the quality of life in our dear county and the decision we make will have an impact for years to come.

May recommended a selection committee to interview the candidates offered by PROACT and forward a list of the top three candidates to the school board for the final selection, according to the Dunwoody Neighbor.

The DeKalb School Board will discuss and vote on the process for the search on Monday, according to DeKalb Schools Fact Checker.

County residents can share their thoughts about the characteristics and experience that are needed in superintendent candidates at any of the six public hearings, which are scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The dates and locations are:

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 at Dunwoody High School
• Wednesday, Feb. 4 at Lakeside High School
• Thursday, Feb. 5 at Stephenson High School
• Tuesday, Feb. 10 at Miller Grove High School
• Wednesday, Feb. 11 at Towers High School
• Thursday, Feb. 12 at DeKalb County BOE Board Room
  
  

In addition to the public meetings, focus group sessions are scheduled from Feb. 3 to Feb. 19. For more information on the focus groups, visit the DeKalb County Schools website.

Below is a copy of CEO Lee May’s letter from DeKalb Schools Fact Checker:

January 13, 2015

To: Dr. Melvin Johnson, Chairman

CC: James McMahan, Stan Jester, Marshall Orson, Dr. Michael Erwin, Vickie Turner, Dr. Joyce Morley; Board Members and Michael Thurmond, Superintendent

RE: Superintendent Search

Dear DeKalb Board of Education,

I pray all is well as you receive this message. I want to applaud and thank you for your leadership and commitment to our DeKalb County scholars as you embark on the selection process for the new DeKalb County School Superintendent. This decision will help determine the future and quality of education in DeKalb for decades to come. As CEO and a member of the Governing Authority, I am equally as concerned about education in our County. The quality of our school system has everything to do with the quality of life in our dear county.

I believe the process of this selection is also critical in the ultimate decision you will make. I believe broad public input into the process will help with community support of your ultimate candidate.

With that being said, I am offering my recommendation concerning the process and external participation in this process.

I recommend the creation of a selection committee that would interview the list of candidates offered by PROACT. The selection committee would then forward to the Board of Education a short list of 3 candidates to consider for a final selection.

The selection committee would consist of 14 members and be comprised of the following:

2 Board of Education members

1 Superintendent Michael Thurmond

1 DeKalb County CEO

1 DeKalb County Board of Commissioner

1 DeKalb Chamber of Commerce member

1 DeKalb Development Authority member

1 DeKalb State Representative

1 DeKalb State Senator

1 DeKalb PTSA member

1 ODE member

1 NAACP member

1 Leadership DeKalb member

1 Georgia Association of Educators member

This is a watershed moment in our county’s history and the decision we make today will have an impact for years to come. I thank you for your consideration of this proposal. This proposal allows for a broader base of input and support in the selection of this critical position.

Yours in service,

Lee May

Interim CEO, DeKalb County Government