The Clayton County School Board has won more time to answer a complaint that seeks its members' removal from office.

Five Clayton County residents petitioned Gov. Sonny Perdue last month to dismiss the board members for violating state laws. Perdue found merit in their complaint and forwarded it last week to the Office of State Administrative Hearings.

Administrative Judge Michael Malihi had scheduled the case for July 16 and 17. He announced Thursday that he has rescheduled it for Aug. 12 and 13. S

School board attorney Julie Lewis asked for the extension, citing a Georgia law that says anyone charged under the statute must be given at least 30 days' notice before a hearing.

Perdue has a legal precedent for his move because former Gov. Roy Barnes removed a Griffin-Spalding County school board member eight years ago for unethical conduct.

Malihi was also the judge for that case.

In both cases, the board members' actions put the school system's accreditation at risk, said Mark A. Elgart, president and chief executive officer of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

SACS has given Clayton County until Sept. 1 to meet nine mandates or lose accreditation. Those mandates include establishing a board that is capable of fulfilling its responsibilities, following an ethics policy and removing outside influences.

SACS investigators will visit Clayton County on Aug. 14 and 15 to assess the school system's progress.

If board members are removed a special election would be held to replace them.