DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The DeKalb County School Board has named Interim Superintendent Dr. Norman Sauce as the sole finalist to officially lead one of Georgia’s largest school districts.
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The board is expected to take a final vote on Oct. 5, but the decision has already drawn criticism from some parents and board members who question how the search was handled.
The controversy comes after former Superintendent Dr. Devon Horton was indicted on federal charges in another state, prompting the board to quickly appoint Sauce to lead the district.
Several board members said Sauce has done a good job during his time as interim superintendent.
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Board member Dijon DaCosta said, however, that four of the seven board members chose Sauce as their sole finalist without considering other candidates.
“I don’t think we had the discussion about what does a superintendent look like for the DeKalb County School District,” DaCosta said.
Some board members also accused others of holding meetings behind closed doors and effectively choosing a superintendent before getting public input.
Lauren Taylor, a DeKalb parent, said she believes racism is part of the decision.
Channel 2’s Tyisha Fernandes also spoke with two staff members and three parents off camera who said they believe the district’s leader should reflect its student population. The district’s website states that 89% of its students are non-white.
Board members supporting Sauce’s confirmation pointed to the work he has done over nearly a year.
“For nearly a year we’ve watched him actually do the job,” board member Andrew Ziffer said.
Another board member said Sauce has exceeded expectations given the circumstances in which he became acting and then interim superintendent.
The board is legally required to wait 14 days before taking the official vote. During that time, the district must allow for public input, although board members are not legally required to make their decision based on that input.
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