School superintendent candidate says Dublin teachers ‘treated unfairly’ coerced into staying

A candidate for state school superintendent has written the Dublin City Board of Education, criticizing the district’s “deeply troubling” treatment of teachers during its current financial crisis.

Randell Trammel, who is challenging Superintendent Richard Woods next year’s election, said he heard reports at a recent town hall meeting in Dublin that some teachers have been threatened with loss of their certification if they leave for another job.

“The suggestion or direct communication that educators may face loss of certification should they choose to leave midyear for employment in another district — especially under circumstances as extraordinary as these — is entirely unacceptable. Such threats are inappropriate, unprofessional and punitive. Teachers should never be coerced into remaining in a system that has failed to uphold its responsibilities to them,” Trammel wrote.

“Many have endured salary reductions, cuts to paid working days and even received their paychecks late — an indisputable breach of contract. These conditions place immense strain not only on teachers’ professional lives but also on their personal financial stability. To hold them responsible for the consequences of administrative mismanagement is profoundly unjust.”

Dublin City Schools officials were preparing a statement in response to Trammell’s letter at press time Wednesday but disputed his claims as unfounded, noting that due to budget constraints the system actually is encouraging teachers to pursue opportunities if offered.

Faced with a projected $13 million deficit by fiscal year’s end, Dublin City cut more than 50 positions, including about a dozen teachers, as part of its deficit reduction plan filed with the state, and has had to borrow from next year’s state funding to meet payroll and other obligations for three consecutive months. The district also owes more than $6 million to the State Health Benefit Plan after not paying employer contributions for more than a year. State officials looking into those overdue payments found other “operational deficiencies” that included the system not having completed an audit since 2021.

A summary report from the state Department of Education blamed the district’s financial crisis on “financial mismanagement, lack of fundamental financial knowledge and processes, and a culture of excess related to programs and personnel.”

Trammell’s letter says the district’s “precarious situation” is one “of its own making.”

“For this reason, I strongly urge you to refrain from any further punitive behavior, intimidation from the Human Resources department, or actions that cultivate an atmosphere of fear, retaliation or retribution. Educators must feel respected and valued – not threatened – as they navigate the fallout of decisions beyond their control. 

“It must be clearly acknowledged: the teachers did not create this crisis. Leadership did. And the consequences of that leadership failure continue to be felt most acutely by students, educators and the broader community. Dublin’s teachers have shown extraordinary commitment despite untenable conditions. They deserve transparency, support and professional respect — not coercion.”

Trammell was critical during his recent Dublin visit of Woods’ and the state Department of Education’s handling of the district’s situation, specifically allowing the school board to go four years without completing an audit. He pointed the finger again in his letter.

“While I fully recognize that the challenges facing the district are large, complex and the result of failures at multiple levels — including a lack of timely  intervention by the local administration, Georgia Department of Education, and the state school superintendent – I cannot overlook the ways in which educators have been unfairly burdened and, in some cases, threatened.”

Trammell’s letter was addressed to interim Superintendent Marcee Pool and the city school board, and copies sent to local legislators and the heads of three teacher organizations.