Overview
- Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order on Aug. 17 suspending Amanda Smith, John Bell, Jeff Davis, Joanna Glover, Peggy Johnson, James Lanier and Kenny Walters from the seven‑member Dublin City Board of Education.
- The suspension follows a unanimous recommendation from the Georgia State Board of Education after a statutory hearing on Aug. 12 that began because Cognia placed the district at the accreditation level just before loss of accreditation.
- A Georgia Department of Audits report and other testimony cited about $20 million in fiscal problems, purchases that raised questions about public funds, weak internal controls and the dismissal of top leaders and 46 staff positions to cut costs.
- Kemp created a four‑member nominating committee chaired by State Board member Matt Donaldson to recommend temporary replacements, and the suspended members have 30 to 60 days under state law to seek reinstatement by petitioning the governor.
- The district serves roughly 2,300 students, and next steps include possible appeals, the selection of temporary board members, continued accreditation review by Cognia and collateral inquiries into the former finance director who is under criminal investigation.