Bill Introduced Would Let Voters Decide DeKalb School Board Size

A bill introduced Friday in the General Assembly would give DeKalb voters the option of choosing a five-, seven- or nine-member school board in a November referendum. The bill is co-sponsored by Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain).

No countywide elections are currently scheduled this year, according to the DeKalb County Elections Division. There is a possibility of a sales tax referendum – referred to as a SPLOST -- for education, but that hasn’t been set, the department said.

Currently, DeKalb has nine school board members but its size has come under fire by parents and other voters.

“DeKalb does have municipal elections this year, in its cities, and there could be other elections throughout the county as well,” said state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), a sponsor of the school board bill. “I’m optimistic about our chances.”

Lawmakers have until Wednesday to get their bills out of committee before legislative crossover day, but locally oriented bills such as Oliver’s HB 22 are not affected. Generally, bills must pass in either the House or Senate by crossover day or they are dead for the session.

"I am prepared to do my constitutional duty regardless of the size of the board, said Donna Edler, a DeKalb County School System board member for District 7, which includes Avondale Estates. "If it does go out for a referendum vote, I will accept the outcome."

Another local bill, Senate Bill 84, would create a code of ethics for the DeKalb school board, including the creation of an ethics commission to govern the body.

“This bill should be coming out of the Senate and moving over to the House in the next couple of days,” said Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur), who is sponsoring the bill along with Sen. Jason Carter (D-Atlanta). “It’s definitely happening.”

The other sponsors of HB 22 include: state Reps. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates); Stephanie Benfield (D-Atlanta); Mike Jacobs (D-Atlanta); and Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta).