GaDOE seeks suspension of all 7 Dublin school board members
The State Board is considering GaDOE’s request following accreditation and financial problems, but Gov. Brian Kemp would make the final decision.
ATLANTA (41NBC/WMGT) — The Georgia State Board of Education is holding a hearing Wednesday as it considers whether to recommend that Gov. Brian Kemp suspend all seven members of the Dublin City Board of Education.
The Georgia Department of Education is seeking the suspension of Chair Mandy Smith, Vice Chair John Bell, Jeff Davis, Joanna Glover, Peggy Johnson, James Lanier and Kenny Walters. The board members oppose suspension, according to a 76-page statement of facts agreed to by both sides.
The hearing began at 9 a.m. You can watch the hearing live here.
Wednesday’s proceeding continues a hearing that began June 9. The State Board granted the Dublin board’s request to continue the case until August.
The agenda includes jointly agreed facts, documentation and possible witnesses from both GaDOE and the Dublin City Board of Education. An executive session is also listed.
How the suspension process works
The hearing is being held under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-73, which applies when a school district is placed at the accreditation level immediately preceding loss of accreditation.
Under State Board rules, testimony must be taken publicly, but the State Board can deliberate in private. Any vote on whether to recommend suspension must be public and can take place after the hearing or at the board’s next regular meeting.
The State Board must notify Kemp and the parties of its decision at the end of the hearing or within 15 days.
If the State Board recommends suspension, Kemp can decide whether to suspend eligible members with pay. He could then appoint temporary replacement members in consultation with the State Board.
Accreditation decision triggered the hearing
The joint filing says Cognia conferred “Accredited Under Conditions” status on Dublin City Schools April 10. That placed the district one step from losing accreditation and triggered the State Board’s authority to conduct the suspension hearing.
Cognia issued its lowest-level finding for seven standards involving stakeholder engagement, board oversight, personnel management, district operations, resource allocation, use of data and evaluation of instructional programs.
The report also found inconsistent compliance with Georgia’s open meetings requirements.
Dublin City Schools submitted a response and action plan to Cognia in June. Cognia notified the district July 9 that it would remain “Accredited Under Conditions” until at least its next monitoring review. The district must carry out its action plan and submit evidence showing its progress.
House Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett of Dublin and Senate President Pro Tempore Larry Walker III of Perry sent a letter to the State Board last week asking it to move forward with the hearing and consider steps to improve governance, financial accountability and public confidence.
Financial problems detailed in agreed facts
The joint filing contains 246 facts that attorneys for GaDOE and the Dublin board agreed are true.
The filing says Dublin City Schools reported general fund deficits for each fiscal year from 2009 through 2014. Financial problems later returned after temporary federal COVID-19 funding expired.
In August 2025, state officials learned the district had not paid approximately $5.6 million in employer contributions to the State Health Benefit Plan during fiscal year 2025. Employee contributions were also months behind.
By September 2025, GaDOE documented an outstanding health-plan balance of approximately $6.7 million and a projected cash shortage of more than $13.4 million by June 2026.
Dublin City Schools entered a Financial Improvement Plan requiring it to pay overdue employee contributions, complete delayed audits, submit deficit and cash-flow plans and provide continued financial reports to the state.
The district also needed multiple advances on future Quality Basic Education funding to meet payroll. The agreed facts list advances of about $1.45 million in September, $1.54 million in October, $1 million in November, $1.3 million in December and $200,000 in January.
Audits found weak controls and budget problems
A January special report from the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts identified potential waste and abuse, overstaffing, excessive personnel costs and the use of temporary money for ongoing expenses.
The report found the district’s original fiscal year 2024 budget projected an $849,000 deficit, while actual spending exceeded the budget by nearly $5 million.
It also found that actual expenses exceeded the original budgets approved by the Dublin board by approximately $15.6 million over fiscal years 2022 through 2024.
According to the agreed facts, the state audit found Dublin City Schools spent approximately $3.9 million more on salaries than comparable districts. It also found the district spent more than $14 million in federal pandemic-relief money on salaries and benefits instead of academic programs.
A separate fiscal year 2023 audit by Mauldin & Jenkins identified material weaknesses, significant deficiencies and failures to comply with some federal grant requirements.
Financial reports from February 2026 showed a negative general fund balance of approximately $1.76 million. The district reported about $7.69 million in liabilities and $5.93 million in assets.
State withdrew dedicated staff
GaDOE provided full-time on-site staff and independent contractors to help Dublin City Schools from October 2025 through April.
State School Superintendent Richard Woods notified the district March 24 that GaDOE would withdraw its dedicated staff because the department no longer had confidence district leadership would make the decisions needed to balance its fiscal year 2027 and 2028 budgets.
Smith disputed the state’s conclusions. She said a tentative budget presented to the Dublin board showed an estimated $342,000 surplus based on information provided by a GaDOE staff member. The district was told the following day that the information was incorrect and the proposal would instead result in a small deficit.
GaDOE’s dedicated assignment ended April 3, although state staff continued providing assistance when requested and as part of their regular statewide duties.
The district’s recovery steps have included approximately $3 million in additional reductions, 10 fewer calendar days, transportation and travel cuts, staffing changes and fewer workdays for some employees.
In May, the district reported progress toward its Financial Improvement Plan goals, budget savings and the hiring of a chief financial officer.
Both sides list possible witnesses
GaDOE’s possible witnesses include Special Adviser Dr. Stephanie Johnson, state Chief Financial Officer Rusk Roam, Financial Review Director Amy Rowell, Deputy State Auditor Kristina Turner and representatives from Cognia.
The state’s list also includes Dr. DeMarcos Holland, the former sole finalist for Dublin City Schools superintendent. The filing says Holland could testify about the superintendent search and his communications with the district and board.
The Dublin board named Holland its sole finalist June 17 but ended the search in July after the two sides could not reach a compensation agreement.
The Dublin board’s possible witnesses include all seven current members, former member Regina McRae, former Finance Director Chad McDaniel, Interim Superintendent Marcee Pool and several district employees and financial consultants.
The board’s filing says its members may testify about what financial information they received, information they say was withheld from them and the steps they took in response to the crisis.
McDaniel is listed as a possible witness concerning financial information allegedly withheld from the board, including the district’s failure to make State Health Benefit Plan payments.
41NBC will update this story when the State Board announces its recommendation.