In a surprising 3-2 vote, the Gwinnett School Board voted to end Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks’s contract a year early than his contract. With Board Chairman Everton Blair, Vice Chairwoman Karen Watkins, and board member Dr.Tarece Johnson voting in favor of the contract ending and Mary Kay Murphy and Steven Knudsen voting against the move. Wilbank’s last day for the district will be July 31, 2021.
In a statement, Wilbanks said, “In light of the addition of new members to the Board and my decision not to seek another contract, this vote is not surprising. While I was prepared to fulfill my contract through June of 2022, recent discussions with the school board made it clear that would not be the case.”
Wilbanks has been the Superintendent of Georgia’s largest school system since 25 years ago and is currently the longest-serving Superintendent in the country of a large, metro school district. In addition to having the longest tenure, Wilbanks is also the highest-paid Superintendent in Georgia with a base salary of $381,000 and supplements, reimbursements, and allowance bringing his salary well above $620,000 last school year.
To help find Wilbank’s replacement, the Georgia School Boards Association to conduct a search for a new superintendent.
Last year the makeup of the Gwinnett School Board changed in the last three years with Everton Blair becoming the first African-American school board meeting followed by Johnson and Watkins being voted in the November primary.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Years ago, during the community dispute about replacing Dr. Wilbanks, I met a very wonderful lady who had worked under Dr. Wilbanks. We talked at length and she expressed herself as someone who was not being ‘HEARD’. I advised her to apply for the position. She said that she would not qualify. For the next four years I’ve watched as one of the best school systems in Georgia has declined. Maybe someone on the board (or all) could contact Dr. Wilbanks’ former assistant.
Sorry, we did not exchange data. But she get’s a vote from me.
Ann Henry
CONCERNED CITIZENS COALITION-GWINNETT