Federal judge clears path for new DeKalb County school board appointments
Interested in one of their positions? There are two left days left to apply for one of the six openings
It appears that the DeKalb County School District can finally turn the page following a tumultuous few months.
Earlier today, U.S. District Judge Richard Story denied a motion filed by the six school board members who were recently suspended. The ruling followed a hearing that took place last Friday, which challenged a 2011 law allowing the governor to remove school board members.
Last week, Deal removed Sarah Wood, Jay Cunningham, Nancy Jester, Eugene Walker, Pamela Speaks, and Donna Edle from their school board positions after the Georgia Board of Education recommended the decision.
“The court’s decision today will allow us to take the next steps toward protecting the futures of DeKalb’s students and maintaining the school system’s accreditation,” Gov. Nathan Deal said in a statement. “I agree with the judge’s opinion that ‘the harm from the loss of accreditation to the School District and the resulting harm to the students in the district are profound.’”
Following Story’s ruling, the AJC’s Maureen Downey posted a lengthy manifesto from a “dismayed” Walker. In it, he writes:
If this unconstitutional act is to stand, then what is next? It will only be a matter of time before another constitutional right will be taken away by another wayward and self-perpetuating politico under the guise of the greater good. Minorities should not feel secure if contrived allegations from anonymous sources with hidden agendas can go to private agencies and to have their civil rights stolen away. This cannot and shall not be allowed to stand.
Leadership calls for tough and sometimes unpopular decisions. Such it is with standing up to the power brokers who seek to systematically erode, divide and conquer the voting strength of partisan and racial minorities. If I lose, so be it. But I cannot and will not go down without a fight on the principles at stake here.
Today’s federal ruling enables Deal to find new board members. Last week, a nominating panel posted a listing for potential applicants. The governor says that he wants the seats filled quickly so that the board can become a functioning body again.
“Time is of the essence because we cannot have this cloud hang over the county or the state,” said Deal.