Clayton County board approves operator agreement to open Convocation Center despite budget concerns

The Clayton County Board of Education voted Feb. 7 to approve moving forward with a negotiated operating relationship for the district’s new Convocation Center, a decision proponents say is necessary to begin events and generate revenue but that drew objections from members worried about near‑term costs and impacts on employees.

Board Chair Benjamin Stringer called the special meeting and led a discussion focused on a draft agreement that staff and counsel negotiated with an outside operator (referenced in discussion as TRP). Counsel summarized key contract terms, including a standard representation-and-warranty clause, a 20‑day cap on board usage reflected in Exhibit B, and an Article 12 conflict‑of‑interest provision the district retained after negotiation. Staff and counsel said the district retains a right to terminate the agreement at the end of each year.

The superintend…