Governor Nathan Deal announced he will sign an executive order accepting the unanimous recommendation by the state Board of Education to suspend six of the nine members of the DeKalb County School Board. Deal made the announcement during a news conference at the State Capitol on Monday afternoon.
The governor said he is appointing a committee to nominate replacements for the suspended board members, and that he will sign the executive order this afternoon. However, the ousted board members can apply for reinstatement 30 days after the executive order is signed.
"The stakes are indeed high," said Gov. Deal, adding that the future of 100,000-plus students in DeKalb County cannot be taken lightly.
However, a federal judge has already issued a temporary restraining order preventing any new board members from taking office until after two court hearings later this week. The order, which was issued by U.S. District Judge Richard Story, doesn't restrain the governor from suspending board members, but it does prevent him from replacing them until after a hearing Friday.
"We don't want to have a long, protracted court battle, court argument. I would hope that the school board members will recognize that our students, our kids, that their interest is paramount to any of theirs," said state Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur).
Deal said that he has selected Brad Bryant, a former DeKalb County School Board member, to serve as his liaison to the DeKalb board and interim Superintendent Michael Thurmond.
Thurmond met with Governor Deal on Monday morning. Thurmond said the school district's priority was education as politicians and judges confronted questions about the embattled school board.
"This too shall pass, and we're just looking forward to the moment when the politicians and the legal wrangling ends, and then we can focus 100 percent of our time on our children," said Thurmond.
The DeKalb County School Board is suing in both Federal and Fulton Superior Courts, claiming the law giving the governor authority to replace local school board members from districts at risk of losing accreditation is unconstitutional. The DeKalb County school system is currently on probation.
Last week, the State Board of Education recommended six of the nine DeKalb County School Board members be given removed. Following a legal challenge, Judge Story temporarily blocked that move.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:15 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:15:24 GMT
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers. Edwin Vargas was arrested Tuesday outside his home in Bronxville.
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:39 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:39:13 GMT
The MTA says limited service will resume this afternoon on Metro-North and Amtrak trains between New York and New Haven.
The MTA says limited service will resume this afternoon on Metro-North and Amtrak trains between New York and New Haven. Beginning with the 3:07 p.m. departure from Grand Central Terminal, Metro-North will operate about half of the regular eastbound PM peak service and regular hourly westbound service with the 4:23 PM train from New Haven. Repair work on tracks that were damaged in last week's train collision has progressed quickly, says the MTA.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:33 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:33:20 GMT
A New Jersey priest who resigned after admitting he worked unsupervised with kids despite a legal agreement that barred him from doing so is headed to court.
A New Jersey priest who resigned after admitting he worked unsupervised with kids despite a legal agreement that barred him from doing so is headed to court.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:23 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:23:53 GMT
The New York jury on which Caroline Kennedy served has acquitted a man of dealing crack cocaine. Kennedy was juror No. 7 at the trial of Harlem resident Nelson Chatman.
The New York jury on which Caroline Kennedy served has acquitted a man of dealing crack cocaine. Kennedy was juror No. 7 at the trial of Harlem resident Nelson Chatman.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:51 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:51:26 GMT
The Metropolitan Opera says it's decided to disband its resident ballet company.
The Metropolitan Opera says it's decided to disband its resident ballet company. The American Guild of Musical Artists said the eight remaining dancers of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet have accepted buyout packages.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:06 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:06:47 GMT
Looking for some waterfront property in tony Greenwich? A 50-acre compound known as Copper Beach Farm has hit the market with an asking price of $190 million.
Looking for some waterfront property in tony Greenwich? A 50-acre compound known as Copper Beach Farm has hit the market with an asking price of $190 million.
Governor Deal announced his decision in a Monday afternoon news conference at the State Capitol.
