DeKalb school board gets new leader
It wasn’t unanimous, but the selection of a new school board chair in DeKalb was decided by a super majority of the historically fractious group.
Retired DeKalb school system administrator and newly-elected board member Melvin Johnson got the nod from his colleagues Wednesday in a 7-2 vote. Johnson’s candidacy was uncontested: Nancy Jester nominated Pam Speaks, but Speaks declined. They both voted against Johnson.
The decision puts a new generation of board members in the spotlight. The board recently selected Jim McMahan as vice chair. He, Johnson and Marshall Orson joined the nine-member body this year, after winning elections last year.
About the Author
Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.
