A group of Georgia legislators has introduced a bipartisan bill that would significantly reduce the pay of Gwinnett County school board members if they terminate another superintendent without cause.
House Bill 767 proposes cutting board members’ compensation to $50 per meeting until any resulting superintendent buyout is fully paid.
“We’re paying someone $1.3 million not to work,” said State Rep. Dewey McClain, D-Gwinnett County. While co-sponsor State Rep. Scott Hilton, R-Peachtree Corners, blasted the board on the instability they have caused. “After years of stability and strong academic performance in Gwinnett, many parents have reached out to me with concerns.The past few years have been rocky, and we want to restore stability to Gwinnett.”
McClain is referred to the estimated $750,000 severance package for recently dismissed Superintendent Calvin Watts, in addition to the $580,000 paid to former Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks.
The legislation follows the school board’s decision to remove Watts without a public explanation, effective in April. The district is now searching for its third superintendent in four years.
Hilton emphasized that the bipartisan bill was introduced out of necessity.
“I typically support local control,” he said, “but when student success is at risk, I step in and fight.”
The legislation also addresses board member communication rights, following an incident in which Board Chairwoman Dr. Adrienne Simmons reprimanded fellow board member Steve Gasper for speaking to the news in January.
“As chair, I should be the face of the board and conversing with the media,” Simmons told Gasper during a February work session.
Gasper, who opposed Watts’ termination, publicly criticized the decision.
“This is a gross misuse of our powers,” Gasper said in January.
McClain defended board members’ rights to speak freely, including a provision in the bill to “prohibit the infringement of communications made by members of such board.”I will make sure his First Amendment rights are protected, just like anyone else’s,” McClain stated.
Former Board President, Dr. Tarece Morgan commented in a Facebook post asking the community to contact McClain and Beckles. “Contact the sponsors of this unethical, illegal, unconstitutional, discriminatory and retaliatory bill led by #DeweyMcClain and #ArleneBeckles that is rooted in #misogynoir. #HB767“
The bill would only apply to future superintendent dismissals. It requires 12 signatures from Gwinnett County’s legislative delegation to advance the legislation, but it has already secured the minimum needed for committee consideration.