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