Dublin City moving on from superintendent choice after failing to reach contract

The cash-strapped Dublin City Board of Education on Friday withdrew its offer to superintendent candidate DeMarcos Holland after being unable to settle on a salary.

While still believing Holland is the man for the job, the board said in a statement that it was “unable to reach an agreement with Dr. Holland for a compensation package that is tolerable for the board and respectful to the district’s current financial situation.”

“Recognizing and accepting this outcome of the superintendent search process has been painfully difficult. But at the end of the day, board members collectively could not justifiably expend an amount of the district’s extremely finite funds that would have been necessary to reach an agreement, “ the statement read. “More importantly, the board could not expect the community to accept such an expenditure.”

Instead, the board plans to call off the superintendent search and extend interim Superintendent Marcee Pool’s contract in that position through the rest off this month as it develops a plan to move forward.

“As for the immediate administrative leadership of Dublin City Schools, the board does not want to hastily rush into determining future plans for such an important matter.”

The board chose Holland, the chief human resources officer for Marietta City Schools, from 25 candidates who applied during a search conducted by the Georgia School Boards Association.

Pool, who had been the district’s curriculum director, has served as interim superintendent since last September, when Superintendent Fred Williams stepped down to take an early retirement after the severity of the school district’s most recent financial troubles were revealed.

State officials last fall projected Dublin City would end of the current fiscal year with a $13.4 million deficit. The district has significantly cut spending – which included mid-year terminations of several dozen teachers and other staffers – but still owes the state about $5 million in overdue payments to the State Health Benefit Plan.

Here is the complete statement issued Friday the school board:

“As the community is aware, the Board of Education has spent a great deal of time, effort, and energy searching for a superintendent to lead this District. On June 17, 2026, the Board named Dr. DeMarco Holland as the sole finalist for the position because we believed he was the right person to pilot the District at this critical juncture and for many years to come. 

While that sentiment has not changed, the Board has been unable to reach an agreement with Dr. Holland for a compensation package that is tolerable for the Board and respectful to the District’s current financial situation. While the Board and Dr. Holland recognized that he would necessarily experience a salary reduction to become Superintendent of Dublin City Schools, it ultimately became apparent that any potential agreement would pose too great of a sacrifice for either Dr. Holland or the Board of Education. As a result, Dr. Holland was notified earlier today that the Board was concluding the superintendent search process and regretted being unable to reach an agreement. 

Recognizing and accepting this outcome of the superintendent search process has been painfully difficult. But at the end of the day, Board members collectively could not justifiably expend an amount of the District’s extremely finite funds that would have been necessary to reach an agreement. More importantly, the Board could not expect the community to accept such an expenditure. 

The Board does not fault Dr. Holland for this outcome in any way, and wishes him the best in his future endeavors. While we were ultimately not able to reach an agreement for him to lead Dublin City Schools, we believe that he will likely be seen leading another school district to success in the very near future. 

As for the immediate administrative leadership of Dublin City Schools, the Board does not want to hastily rush into determining future plans for such an important matter. The Board intends to extend Interim Superintendent Marcee Pool’s contract in that position through July 31, 2026, and over the next few weeks will work to develop a plan to move forward.”