DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The new superintendent of DeKalb County Schools sat down with Channel 2 Action News to discuss his priorities and goals for students.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Dr. Norman Sauce III was appointed permanent superintendent Tuesday. He had been serving on an interim basis after the former superintendent resigned last year.
Sauce says it’s all about giving students the education they need to be successful in life.
He says that begins at the preschool level and continues until students graduate and beyond, and parents should be part of the process.
For Trinity Smith, whose son Julian isn’t quite ready for school, safety and the quality of education are among her top concerns.
“I think safety is important to me and the quality of education is important to me,” Smith said.
As for the top priority of DeKalb’s new superintendent, Sauce says it’s literacy.
“First and foremost, our priority is elevating literacy instruction in our school district,” Sauce said.
Sauce has officially taken the helm of the third-largest school system in Georgia, and he’s getting out of the gate with some good news to build on.
The district recently reported its highest graduation rate ever, at 83.3%.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Child claws through closet wall, jumps from window to escape Georgia woman who adopted him
- Nearly 1,500 guns seized, 20 people charged in major gang trafficking case
- Christa Pike is conscious and speaking after Tennessee failed execution, her attorneys say
“The highest graduation rate our district has ever had, of 83.3 percent, which by no means [is] the conclusion or finality of our work,” Sauce said.
But Sauce also faces challenges, including declining enrollment in some schools, leaving many buildings underutilized.
The school system is considering closing or repurposing more than two dozen under-enrolled schools.
“It’s still too early to say how many schools might be consolidated. We have a phase two we probably have talked about, coming really in January of 2027, where we get closer to communities that are impacted by under-enrollment,” Sauce said.
DeKalb County Schools is the largest provider of pre-K education in Georgia, and the district has expanded its career and technical education courses.
Sauce pointed to programs in several fields.
“In various fields, agriculture, business, computers, barbering, welding, auto mechanics, aviation,” he said.
He says the goal is to provide a pathway for students to achieve their dreams.
“I am excited to be part of the next phase of our success. And be part of the next best chapter of the DeKalb County School District we seek to author,” Sauce said.
Sauce takes over the district as DeKalb schools continue to navigate questions surrounding enrollment and the future of under-enrolled schools.
Just one day before Sauce was named permanent superintendent, former DeKalb Superintendent Devon Horton pleaded guilty to three federal criminal charges stemming from his time as a superintendent in Chicago.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]