DeKalb operations committee affirms operational assessment and schedules implementation talks

Marita Davis Johnson, chair of the operations committee, said the committee would move to affirm payment for an operational and performance assessment that was previously presented by the CEO and Malden Jenkins. Committee staff told members the consultants are available for individual or group briefings as early as this Friday and through the following week.

The assessment, which staff said contains 267 findings, will be paired with an implementation strategy they intend to advance while committees review department-level sections. An unnamed operations staffer told the committee the goal is to align implementation with the 2026 budget so commissioners can see where investments are needed and what performance metrics will track progress. "This work has been done," staff said, urging committees to hear department responses and to engage a change-management firm to assist with rollout and accountability.

Committee members asked that the consultants and departments have opportunities to provide nuance where needed. A commissioner said the committee planned to compare the assessment’s findings with other audits (for example, a 'lifeline' audit) before implementing initiatives. Staff said the full assessment and the implementation plan will be discussed in individual committees and that commissioners could schedule short briefings; members agreed to try for a Friday afternoon meeting.

A motion to approve the payment/affirmation of the assessment was made and passed by voice vote. The committee directed staff to continue scheduling consultant briefings and to return implementation details to committee calendars for departmental responses.