DeKalb to bring community members into superintendent search

The DeKalb County school board has agreed to empanel a committee to help find the school district’s next leader.

Superintendent Michael Thurmond’s contract expires in June, and PROACT Search has been hired to help the school board find a successor. Parent groups and even the county government chief, CEO Lee May, pushed the board to bring DeKalb residents into the process.

The vote was 5-1 Monday (Joyce Morley voted no; vice chairman Jim McMahan was out of town) to establish an advisory group. “The board has the final say so,” Chairman Melvin Johnson said. “However, the liaison group will continuously be working with the board and the search firm.” He said he expects the board to appoint members by week’s end.