DeKalb board hears strategic‑plan update, legislative briefing and ESOL evaluation; adult‑education program highlights workforce training

At its March 10 meeting the DeKalb County Board of Education heard a series of presentations that outlined the district’s strategic priorities, described what is at stake in this year’s Georgia legislative session for schools, and set out early findings from an independent evaluation of ESOL services.

Superintendent Devon Q. Horton opened the presentations by introducing the district’s March strategic‑plan update. Pamela McLeod, who delivered the progress report, walked the board through the plan “Disrupting for Excellence: New Levels, New Heights,” summarizing six goal areas — academic success, family and community engagement, talent recruitment and retention, culture and climate, mental health and wellness, and organizational excellence — and the performance objectives the district is implementing in year one. McLeod said the district uses “reality checks” and monthly miracles workshops to monitor progress and pledged a more detailed data update at the June meeting.

In a lengthy legislative briefing, the district’s legislative advisers ran through major education bills on crossover day: proposals on school‑zone speed‑camera rules (two competing House bills), a large school‑safety package (HB268) that would create a statewide student safety database (S3) under the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, updates to the QBE funding formula including transportation and poverty weighting, literacy/dyslexia bills, and measures affecting local board authority and charter approvals. The advisers warned that some bills have changed rapidly after crossover and that the superintendent and lobbyists would continue to press district concerns in the Capitol. Board members pressed on FERPA, who would access S3 data and how the district’s voice would be represented to legislators.

The board also heard presentations on adult education and the district’s ESL/adult learning programs. Dr. Yolanda Williamson and Dr. Damien Dedham Shabazz described a 5‑year federally funded adult education grant (about $494,494) that underwrites ABE, IET (integrated education and training), ESL and GED supports. The program reported 418 enrollees, rolling cohorts for custodial and ServeSafe certifications, and partnerships with Goodwill and WorkSource DeKalb to place graduates into district operations roles (custodial tech, food service, CDL pipeline).

An outside contractor, RMC Research Group, presented early findings from an ESOL program evaluation and master‑plan process. The evaluators said the district has several bright spots (an International Welcome Center and familiarity with WIDA standards) but also notable gaps: an insufficient supply of ESOL‑certified teachers, inconsistent district policies and professional learning, gaps in parent communication and a concerning snapshot on ACCESS results — roughly half of English learners made no proficiency‑band movement in the examined year while a smaller group advanced one band. The reviewers recommended strengthening communication, equitable collaborative processes, curriculum alignment and significant ESOL‑focused training and staffing increases.

Board discussion and next steps: trustees asked for clearer measures tied to the strategic plan, more granular information on safe center locations and funding, and timelines for ESOL master‑plan recommendations; RMC and district staff said a substantive report and implementation action plan will be completed by late spring with monitoring and budget‑time recommendations in time for June budget discussions.

The meeting ended after votes on the consent agenda and several pulled capital items. The board set follow‑up deadlines for staff to return with more detail on funding sources, procurement choices, and implementation plans for training and program expansion.