Politics & Government

Gov. Deal Suspends Six DeKalb School Board Members

Nancy Jester and Pamela Speaks, who represent several Dunwoody schools, would lose their jobs if the courts rule that Deal's suspension is valid.


Gov. Nathan Deal announced Monday that he is signing an executive order that accepts the State Board of Education's recommendation that six DeKalb school board members be removed.

Deal made the announcement Monday afternoon during a press conference at the state capitol.

Prior to the announcement, Deal huddled with members of the DeKalb legislative delegation for several minutes.

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Deal has also appointed a nominating committee to recommend new members of the school board, composed of Keith Mason, a current member of the State Board of Education and who will chair the committee; Jim Bostick, a former member of the state board of education; Sadie Denard, a member of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce; Alicia Phillip, president of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta; and Garry McGiboney, also a member of the state board of education.

After a 14-plus-hour meeting this past Thursday, the State Board of Education voted to recommend that Deal remove six members of the DeKalb school board.

Find out what's happening in Dunwoodywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The board voted unanimously to recommend that Sarah Copelin-Wood, Donna Edler, Eugene Walker, Jay Cunningham, Nancy Jester and Pamela Speaks be removed from the DeKalb school board.

However, in a legal move late Friday afternoon, the school board filed an emergency motion in federal court, hoping to stop the governor from taking any action.

Over the weekend, a federal judge issued a restraining order that prevents the suspension of six DeKalb school board officials by Gov. Nathan Deal. The order does not prevent Deal from suspending the school board members, but does prohibit their actual suspension until a hearing is convened on Friday.

See Also:

Judge Grants Restraining Order Against Suspension of DeKalb School Board

School Board Files Emergency Motion Motion to Stop Possible Suspension

Replay Patch's Live Coverage of the State Board of Education Hearing With the DeKalb School Board


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