By: Jackson Garner
The citizens of DeKalb County were given choices on November 6, 2012. Their choices were then transformed into representatives that were seen as legitimate through the eyes of not only the municipality that elected them, but also higher levels of government that respect their decision of representation.
On Monday, February 25, however, Governor Nathan Deal announced that he was suspending six of the nine elected DeKalb County School Board members. The
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or SACS, placed the DeKalb County School System on probation in December 2012 for “lack of leadership, abuse of power, and money mismanagement.” SACS is the equivalent to the NCAA for college sports players: if they say you cannot play, then you sit on the sidelines. Basically, SACS determines whether the value of a high school diploma is worth the paper it is written upon and can affect if a student graduates with a “real” diploma.
With these thoughts looming in Governor Deal’s mind, he made the executive decision to suspend six board members, a power that was given to him by a law passed during the 2011 General Assembly session. Supporters and opponents of Governor Deal’s removal of the largely African-American Democrat school board have been vocal for each side.
Perhaps the most surprising supporter of Governor Deal’s decision has been the African-American Democratic House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams. Abrams, facing controversy for supporting this measure, has stated she will do what is best for students—a measure she believes Governor Deal is taking. The Democratic Leader voted to give Governor Deal this power back in 2011 and has been unwavering in her support of
him on this issue.
The loudest opponents have come from the members who lost their jobs. While they have been verbally silent on their terminations, they decided their best arguments would do better in writing—a lawsuit against Governor Deal. The six removed members have sued, challenging the constitutionality of the governor’s authority. State Representative Jason Carter (D – Decatur), who is never afraid to voice his concerns over the state of Georgia’s education, has been largely quiet on whether he supports the decision.
Some critics contend that the 2011 law that gives Governor Deal this authority diminishes the free will of the people that elected the school board members. Opponents might argue that Governor Deal is doing to DeKalb County exactly what many states are fighting to prevent the federal education law No Child Left Behind from doing: taking control. Governor Deal, who has requested a waiver from some of the stipulations of NCLB, is now controlling the fate of two-thirds of the local school board.
Even the Governor had reservations about making this decision, but felt he had no other option. Supporters state that the bill passed in 2011 was approved by the Georgia General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Deal. While it would be naïve to think since bills passed by state chambers are completely righteous and constitutional (i.e. poll taxes during the Jim Crow era), this could be seen as more legitimate since it has bipartisan support among different demographic groups.
People from both sides of this debate can picket, write letters, and publish editorials in the newspaper stating their position. The most important opinion, however, will come from U.S. District Court Judge Richard Story. While he wants to give due diligence to the case, Judge Story also wants to move as quickly as possible to not keep DeKalb in limbo. Arguments were already made in his courtroom on Friday, March 1, and it is not clear how long they will continue.
But what happens if he rules in favor of the defendants, the six members who lost their job? Those six will return to work not clear if they even have the confidence of Michael Thurmond, the interim Superintendent of DeKalb County School System. Thurmond has been walking a tight rope during this drama—he is trying to please Governor Deal who supported him in this job, while seeming sympathetic to the board members who hired him before they were removed. And if Judge Story rules that the law is constitutional, then Governor Deal will take applications to fill elected seats.
Unfortunately the political controversy surrounding these moves is taking away from the actual people that are affected, the students. Whether those six members retain their jobs or Governor Deal ultimately wins in court, SACS will need to be pleased with the progress of the school board so students can leave high school with a meaningful diploma.
