Gov. Nathan Deal has named three new members to the Dooly County school board after suspending them over accreditation issues.

The 1,500-student system in Middle Georgia has been roiled by controversy since at least 2015, when the Dooly board faced complaints that its members were meddling in schools, a cardinal sin according to accreditation organization AdvancEd.

Last fall, the organization told the state board of education that the board had not mended its ways, and in November Deal suspended five board members.

Two of them are being succeeded by the winners in the November election, leaving three for Deal to replace. On Tuesday, he named Rev. F. Thomas (Tommy) Mason, Jr., Dr. Wanda Parker-Jackson and Michael Bowens to fill the three unexpired terms.

About the Author

Keep Reading

HBCUs nationally will get $438 million, according to the UNCF, previously known as the United Negro College Fund. Georgia has 10 historically Black colleges and universities. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Featured

The city of Atlanta opened Azalea Fresh Market downtown to help residents find affordable groceries. (Natrice Miller/AJC)