Committee seeks applicants to replace Dublin School Board

The state committee tasked with nominating replacements for the suspended Dublin City Board of Education began soliciting resumes Tuesday from residents willing to take on the task of turning around the struggling school district.

“We’re hoping to act quickly to bring some stability to the district,” said state Board of Education member Matt Donaldson, a member of the nominating committee.

On Monday, Gov. Brian Kemp ordered all seven members of the Dublin City Board of Education suspended and removed from office. He will appoint temporary replacements from candidates recommended by the local nominating committee created through his executive order.

Donaldson said committee members are concerned about finding candidates who are both qualified and willing. 

“We might have trouble getting people interested,” he said. “I am hopeful that we have people who want to serve, but I am aware of the challenges they face.”

The nominating committee includes Donaldson, state Rep. Matt Hatchett, state Sen. Larry Walker, former Dublin Mayor Phil Best and local businessman Edwin May.

The nominating committee announced Tuesday afternoon that it is accepting letters of intent and resumes from individuals interested in serving on the Dublin City Board of Education. The letter of intent must include the board district where the applicant resides with their physical address listed.

  The deadline for submitting the letters of intent and resumes is Wednesday, Aug. 26,  at 5 p.m. 

To be considered, submissions may be emailed to DublinCityNominatingCommittee@doe.k12.ga.us or dropped off in-person in Dublin at Plum Alley, located at 2032 D Veterans Blvd.

The suspended board members can petition the governor individually for reinstatement, which would be decided at another hearing. Any board member who does not petition would be permanently removed.

The law calls for the governor to suspend the board with pay, which Dublin’s members were. However, the board is only paid for meetings, which means the suspension essentially is without pay.

The suspensions were recommended last week by the state Board of Education after an almost 11-hour hearing on the district’s downgraded accreditation status. 

Testimony highlighted Dublin City’s history of financial struggles and how the board has repeatedly promised but failed to fix its long-running deficit. It also revealed how the district, with little to no oversight from the local board, nearly misspent and mismanaged its way into insolvency after an influx of more $19 million in federal COVID money led to over-hiring and overpaying staff.

Kemp’s order lists each of Dublin’s seven board members by name – chairwoman Amanda Smith, John Bell, Jeff Davis, Joanna Glover, Peggy Johnson, James Lanier and Kenny Walters.

Three of the board members were in their first terms. Smith and Glover took office in 2024, while Davis began serving this January.

Dublin City Interim Superintendent Marcee Pool said Tuesday that the board’s suspension will not impact operations on campus or in the classroom.

“We are committed to providing the best possible education for each and every student in our district, as we have throughout this entire process,” Pool said. “Rest assured that the day-to-day operation of the school district will not change during this transitional period. Teachers will continue to teach, our teams and clubs will continue to compete and hold meetings, and our 21st Century after-school programs will continue to provide students with academic support to help them achieve at their highest levels.”