Dublin City Schools interim board members sworn in after previous board suspended

The appointments followed a unanimous recommendation from the Georgia State Board of Education to suspend the previous board members.

DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Seven interim members of the Dublin City Board of Education have officially been sworn in, weeks after Governor Brian Kemp suspended the district’s previous board members.

Superior Court Judge Jon Helton administered the oath of office during the school board’s monthly work session Monday evening, according to Dublin City Schools.

The interim board includes Chairman David Westerfield, Vice Chair Priscilla Adams, D’Andrea King, Doug Eaves, Angela Wright, Randy Green and Teresa Holliday.

Kemp appointed the seven temporary members September 2, filling every seat left vacant after he suspended the previous board members August 17. The appointments took effect immediately.

The appointments followed a unanimous recommendation from the Georgia State Board of Education to suspend the previous board members. The process was triggered after Dublin City Schools was placed under “Accredited Under Conditions” status by Cognia, the accreditation level immediately preceding loss of accreditation.

The suspended members are Amanda “Mandy” Smith, John Bell, Jeff Davis, Joanna Glover, Peggy Johnson, James Lanier and Kenny Walters.

Under state law, the suspended members have an opportunity to petition the governor for reinstatement. If a suspended member does not submit a timely petition, the suspension becomes a permanent removal and the corresponding temporary replacement becomes a permanent board member.

Kemp selected the interim members after a five-member nominating committee accepted applications and submitted recommendations to the governor.

The new board takes over as Dublin City Schools continues working through accreditation and financial challenges that led to state intervention.