SB 578: DeKalb County; board of education; the description of the education districts; change

Senate Bill 578

By: Senators Jones of the 10th and Anderson of the 43rd

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

To amend an Act establishing in DeKalb County districts from which members of the county board of education shall be elected, approved April 12, 1963 (Ga. L. 1963, p. 3424), as amended, so as to change the description of the education districts; to provide for the election at large of the chairperson of such board of education; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for continuation in office of current members; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

An Act establishing in DeKalb County districts from which members of the county board of education shall be elected, approved April 12, 1963 (Ga. L. 1963, p. 3424), as amended, is amended by revising Section 1 as follows: "SECTION 1.

(a) There is created the board of education of DeKalb County. The board of education shall consist of seven members elected as provided in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) For purposes of electing members of the board of education, the DeKalb County School District is divided into seven education districts. One member of the board shall be elected from each such district. Education districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 shall be and correspond to those six numbered districts described in Appendix A and attached to and made a part of this Act and further identified as 'User: SD10 Plan Name: DekSB-SD10-p1-2026 Plan Type: Local'. Education district 7 shall be composed of the entire geographic area of the DeKalb County School District and the person elected from such district shall serve as the chairperson of the board of education.

(c) For the purposes of such plan:

(1) The term 'VTD' shall mean and describe the same geographical boundaries as provided in the report of the Bureau of the Census for the United States decennial census of 2020 for the State of Georgia. The separate numeric designations in a district description which are underneath a 'VTD' heading shall mean and describe individual Blocks within a VTD as provided in the report of the Bureau of the Census for the United States decennial census of 2020 for the State of Georgia; and

(2) Except as otherwise provided in the description of any district, whenever the description of any district refers to a named city, it shall mean the geographical boundaries of that city as shown on the census maps for the United States decennial census of 2020 for the State of Georgia.

(d) Any part of the DeKalb County School District which is not included in any district described in subsection (b) of this section shall be included within that district contiguous to such part which contains the least population according to the United States decennial census of 2020 for the State of Georgia.

(e) Any part of DeKalb County School District which is described in subsection (b) of this section as being included in a particular district shall nevertheless not be included within such district if such part is not contiguous to such district. Such noncontiguous part shall instead be included within that district contiguous to such part which contains the least population according to the United States decennial census of 2020 for the State of Georgia."

SECTION 2.

Those members of the board of education of DeKalb County who are serving as such on the effective date of this Act and any person selected to fill a vacancy in any such office shall continue to serve as such members until the regular expiration of their respective terms of office and upon the election and qualification of their respective successors.

SECTION 3.

The election superintendent of DeKalb County shall call and conduct an election as provided in this section for the purpose of submitting this Act to the electors of the DeKalb County school district for approval or rejection. The election superintendent shall conduct that election on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November, 2026, and shall issue the call and conduct that election as provided by general law. The election superintendent shall cause the date and purpose of the election to be published once a week for two weeks immediately preceding the date thereof in the official organ of DeKalb County. The ballot shall have written or printed thereon the words: "( ) YES Shall the Act be approved which provides that the DeKalb County Board of Education shall be composed of six members elected from one of six ( ) NO election districts and a chairperson elected by the voters of the school system at large?" All persons desiring to vote for approval of the Act shall vote "Yes," and all persons desiring to vote for rejection of the Act shall vote "No." If more than one-half of the votes cast on such question are for approval of the Act, Sections 1 and 2 of this Act shall become of full force and effect on January 1, 2029; provided, however, that those provisions of Section 1 necessary to conduct the 2028 election for members of the DeKalb County Board of Education shall become effective on January 1, 2028. If the Act is not so approved or if the election is not conducted as provided in this section, Sections 1 and 2 of this Act shall not become effective, and this Act shall be automatically repealed on the 365th calendar day following the election date provided for in this section. The expense of such election shall be borne by DeKalb County. It shall be the election superintendent's duty to certify the result thereof to the Secretary of State. The provisions of this section shall be mandatory upon the election superintendent and are not intended as directory. If the election superintendent fails or refuses to comply with this section, any elector of the DeKalb County school district may apply for a writ of mandamus to compel the election superintendent to perform his or her duties under this section. If the court finds that the election superintendent has not complied with this section, the court shall fashion appropriate relief requiring the election superintendent to call and conduct such election on the date required by this section or on the next date authorized for special elections provided for in Code Section 21-2-540 of the O.C.G.A.

SECTION 4.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 3 of this Act, this Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.

SECTION 5.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed. APPENDIX A

User: SD10

Plan Name: DekSB-SD10-p1-2026 Plan Type: Local District 001

County DeKalb GA VTD Ashford Dunwoody Road (BHAVN) VTD Ashford Park Elem (BHAVN) VTD Ashford Parkside (BHAVN) VTD Austin (DUN) VTD Chamblee (CHA) VTD Chamblee 2 (CHA) VTD Chesnut Elem (DUN) VTD Doraville North (DOR) VTD Doraville South (DOR) VTD Dresden Elem (CHA) VTD Dunwoody (DUN) VTD Dunwoody 2 (DUN) VTD Dunwoody Library (DUN) VTD Georgetown (DUN) VTD Huntley Hills Elem (CHA) VTD Kingsley Elem (DUN) VTD Kittredge Elem (BHAVN) VTD Montgomery Elem (BHAVN) VTD Mount Vernon East (DUN) VTD Mt.Vernon West (DUN) VTD North Peachtree (DUN) VTD Oakcliff Elem VTD Peachtree Middle (DUN) VTD Tilly Mill Road (DUN) VTD Winters Chapel (DUN) District 002

County DeKalb GA VTD Austin Drive VTD Avondale (AVO) Block 023000

1000 1001

VTD Briar Vista Elem (UNI & ATL) Block 020100

2000 2005

Block 021502

1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2020 Block 021505

2000 2001 2002 2003 3000 3001 3002 3003 3004 VTD Briarcliff VTD Briarwood (BHAVN) VTD Brookhaven (BHAVN) VTD Canby Lane Elem VTD Clairmont Road VTD Columbia Drive VTD Covington Block 023112

4004

Block 023113

1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1013 1014 1015 1016 1022 1026 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2008 3000 3001 3002 3003 3004 3005 3007 VTD Covington Hwy VTD Cross Keys High (BHAVN) VTD Druid Hills Block 021505

1005 1010

Block 022401

2002 2003 2007 Block 022403

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2010 2011 2012 2018 3000 3001 3002 3003 3004 3005 Block 022404

1024 1038 1039 1041 Block 022405

2004 3003 3004 3005 VTD Emory Road Block 021506

1002 1003 1004 1007 Block 022404

1000 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1043 Block 022405

1001 1002 1004 1009 1010 1011 1013 2000 2001 VTD Emory South (UNI & ATL) Block 020100

1001 1003 1004 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 Block 022401

1000 1001 1004 1009 1010 1011 1012 1014 1015 1016 1017 2004 2005 2006 2008 2010 2013 2014 3005 3007 3008 3009 3011 4000 4001 4002

VTD Fernbank

VTD Flat Shoals Library VTD Harris - Margaret Harris Ed VTD Kelley Chapel Road VTD Lavista

VTD Lavista Road Block 021505

1000 1001 1004 4000 4001 4002 4003 4008 Block 021506

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Block 021602

1012

Block 021604

2016 2017 2021 Block 021606

3001 3008 3009 3010 3011 3012 Block 022404

1004

VTD Mathis - Bob Mathis Elem VTD Medlock

VTD Montclair Elem (BHAVN) VTD North Decatur Block 022203

1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1015 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2022 2026 2028 Block 022206

2016 2018 2019 3000 3001 Block 022602

1014 1015 1016 VTD Peachcrest VTD Rainbow Elem VTD Rowland Elem Block 023115

1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 VTD Scott

VTD Shaw Elementary VTD Silver Lake (ATL & BHAVN) Block 021103

1001 1002 1003 1004 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2007 2008 2009 3000 3001 3002 4000 4001 4002 4003 4004 4005 4006 4007 4008

Block 021104

1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Block 021222

4017

Block 021405

3003 4005 4006 Block 021411

3000

VTD Skyland (BHAVN) VTD Snapfinger Elem VTD Snapfinger Road North VTD Woodward Elem (BHAVN) Block 021415

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 3000 3001 3002 3003 3004 3005 3006 3007 3008 3009 3010 3011 3012 3013 3014 3015 3016 3017

Block 021417

2004 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 3000 3001 3002 4000 4001 4002 4003

Block 021502

3000 3001 3003 4000 4001 4002 4004 Block 021607

1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1018 District 003

County DeKalb GA VTD Avondale (AVO) Block 022100

2042 2043 2045 Block 022203

2023 2024

Block 022900

1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 Block 023000

1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 1023 1024 1025 1026 1027 1028 1029 1031 1032 1033 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Block 023102

1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1019 Block 023112

4005

Block 023113

1017 1020 1021 1023 1024 1025 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 3006

VTD Avondale High Block 022900

1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 1022 1038 1039 1040 1041 1042 1047 1049 1050 1051 1052 2002 2003 2004 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2024 2025 2026 2027 2030 2031 2032 Block 023000

1020 1021 1022 1030 2010 Block 023101

2002 2003 2013 VTD Bouldercrest Road VTD Browns Mill Elem VTD Candler

VTD Cedar Grove Elem VTD Cedar Grove Middle VTD Cedar Grove South VTD Chapel Hill Elem VTD Clifton

VTD Columbia Elem VTD Columbia Middle VTD Covington Block 023113

1018 1019 2013 VTD Flakes Mill Fire Station VTD Flat Shoals VTD Flat Shoals Elem VTD Flat Shoals Parkway VTD Gresham Road VTD Harris - Narvie J. Harris Elem VTD Kelley Lake Elem VTD King - ML King Jr High VTD Knollwood Elem VTD McNair

VTD McNair Academy Block 023601

1001 1003 1005 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 2017 2023 2025 2027 2030 2031 2032 Block 023602

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2009 2010 2011 VTD McNair High Block 023801

1000 1001 1003 1004 1005 1006 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 3000 3001 3002 3003 3004 3005 3006 3007 3008 3009 4000 4001 4002 4003 4004 4005 4006 4007 4008

Block 023802

3000 3001 3002 3003 3005 3007 3008 3012 3013 3014 3029 3030 VTD Meadowview VTD Midway Elem VTD North Decatur Block 022203

2027

VTD Oak View Elem VTD Piney Grove Block 023701

1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1021 1022 1026 1027 1028 1031 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Block 023702

1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 2012 VTD Snapfinger Road South VTD Terry Mill VTD Toney Elem VTD Wadsworth VTD Wesley Chapel Library District 004

County DeKalb GA VTD Allgood Elem VTD Bethune Middle VTD Candler - Murphey Candler Elem VTD Clarkston Block 022001

3012

Block 022007

1000 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Block 022010

1013 1014

Block 022011

1002 1003 1004 1007 1009 1010 1011 1013 1015 1017 Block 022012

1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Block 022014

2006 2007

Block 022100

1000 1001 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1014 Block 022205

3009

Block 022206

2020 2021

VTD Coralwood VTD Dunaire Elem VTD Fairington Elem VTD Flat Rock Elem VTD Glenhaven VTD Glenwood Road VTD Indian Creek VTD Jolly Elem Block 022011

1005 1008

VTD McLendon

VTD McWilliams VTD Memorial South VTD Miller Grove VTD Miller Grove Road VTD Northlake VTD Panola Road VTD Panola Way Elem VTD Rehoboth

Block 021708

1007 1008 1009 1010 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 Block 022001

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 VTD Rowland Elem Block 023111

1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 1020 1021 1022 1023 1024 Block 023112

1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 VTD Rowland Road VTD Salem Middle VTD Shamrock

VTD Stonecrest Library VTD Valley Brook VTD Woodridge Elem VTD Woodrow Road District 005

County DeKalb GA VTD Briarlake Elem VTD Clarkston Block 021817

1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 Block 022010

1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1015 1016 1024 1025

Block 022013

1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1015 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Block 022014

1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2008 2009 2010 VTD Crossroads VTD Freedom Middle VTD Hambrick Elem VTD Hawthorne Elem VTD Henderson Mill VTD Idlewood Elem (TUC) VTD Jolly Elem Block 022010

1000 1001 1002 1017 1018 1019 1020 1021 1022 1023 1026 1027 1028

Block 022011

1000 1001 1006 1012 1014 1016 2000 2001 2002 2003 Block 022013

1014 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 Block 022015

1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 VTD Lakeside High VTD Lithonia High VTD Marbut Elem VTD Midvale Road Block 021808

1023

Block 021820

1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2007 Block 021821

2009

VTD Miller - Eldridge L. Miller Elem VTD Miller Grove High VTD Montreal (TUC) VTD North Hairston VTD Oak Grove Elem VTD Panola

VTD Pine Lake (PIN) VTD Redan Middle VTD Redan Road VTD Redan-Trotti Library VTD Rehoboth

Block 022001

1011 2000

Block 022007

1010

VTD Rockbridge Elem Block 021906

1012 1013 3008 3010 Block 021908

3000 3002 3003 3004 3005 3006 3007 Block 021916

2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 Block 021917

1000 1001 1002 1003 1015 1016 1017 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 VTD Sagamore Hills Elem VTD South Hairston VTD Stone Mountain Middle (TUC) Block 021910

4016 4017

VTD Tucker Library (TUC) Block 021819

2018

VTD White Oak VTD Young Road District 006

County DeKalb GA VTD Brockett (TUC) VTD Brockett Elem (TUC) VTD Embry Hills VTD Evansdale Elem VTD Hugh Howell (TUC) VTD Lithonia (LIT) VTD Livsey Elem VTD Midvale Elem (TUC) VTD Midvale Road Block 021820

2006

VTD Pleasantdale Road VTD Princeton Elem VTD Redan Elem VTD Rock Chapel Elem VTD Rock Chapel Road VTD Rockbridge Elem Block 021906

1002 1005 3012 3013 4008 VTD Rockbridge Road VTD Shadow Rock Elem VTD Smoke Rise (TUC) VTD South Deshon VTD Stephenson High VTD Stephenson Middle VTD Stone Mill Elem VTD Stone Mountain (STO) VTD Stone Mountain Champion (STO) VTD Stone Mountain Elem VTD Stone Mountain Middle (TUC) Block 021817

1000 1001 1002 1004 1005 1006 Block 021823

1027 1028

Block 021910

4000 4001 4002 4003 4004 4005 4006 4009 4011 4012 4013 4014 4015

Block 021911

2000 2001 2002 2003 Block 021913

1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 3000 3001 3002 3003 3004 3005 3006 3007 4002 4003 4004 4005 4006 4007

VTD Stoneview Elem VTD Tucker (TUC) VTD Tucker Library (TUC) Block 021819

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2020 Block 021821

2017 2018

Block 021822

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2026 2027 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2036 2037 2038 Block 021823

2000 2001 2002 2010 2011 2012 2013 3000 3001 3002 3003 3004 3005 3006

VTD Warren Tech VTD Wynbrooke Elem