Cobb County board approves personnel report and amends superintendent’s contract; attempted rescind blocked by parliamentary ruling
Summary
On March 20 the Cobb County School District board approved a personnel report that included several retirements, upheld a disciplinary hearing officer decision, and approved an amendment to the superintendent’s contract; a later motion to rescind that amendment was ruled not in order under Robert’s Rules of Order.
The Cobb County School District Board of Education on March 20 voted to approve the administration’s personnel report, approved a student disciplinary hearing officer’s decision and other executive-session items, and approved an amendment to the superintendent’s contract that the board said adjusted his base salary.
The personnel report, presented by Chief Human Resources Officer Keeley Bowen, listed multiple retirements and other employment actions discussed in executive session. The administration recommended approval of those actions for effective dates in June and July 2025.
Board member Mr. Wheeler moved to accept the personnel report and the motion was seconded; the board chair called the vote and the personnel report was approved. The personnel report included named retirements and effective dates announced during the meeting, including Dr. Laura Lee Hill (principal, Griffin Bridal school) effective June 1, 2025; Dr. Denise McGee (principal, Betty Grama Middle School) effective June 1, 2025; Regina Montgomery (principal, McEachern High School) effective July 1, 2025; Shay Thomas (assistant superintendent, School Leadership Division) effective July 1, 2025; and Candace Wilks (assistant superintendent, School Leadership Division) effective July 1, 2025.
Board members also moved to approve a legal matter discussed in executive session and to approve a student disciplinary hearing officer’s decision. The student-disciplinary motion was moved by Ms. Davis and seconded by Mr. Scammelhorn; the board recorded votes in favor with at least one abstention noted (Ms. Sailor). The board did not state a full roll-call tally in the public record for the student disciplinary vote.
Separately, Board member Mr. Scammelhorn moved to "approve the amendment of the superintendent's contract to make a base salary adjustment." Mr. Christodoro seconded. The chair called the vote; the board reported four members in favor and three opposed and the motion passed 4–3.
Following that approval, Board member Mr. Hutchins moved in executive session to rescind his earlier affirmative vote. The motion to rescind was seconded, but the board’s parliamentarian, Miss Wilcox, ruled that because the contract had been signed and the meeting had concluded the rescind motion was not possible under Robert’s Rules of Order.
Ending: The superintendent told the board he had personally initiated a review of how some personnel matters were handled and said that review had become an investigation; he said he would report any findings when the investigation concludes.
