Committee approves purchasing and governance housekeeping policies; moves others to full board

The Atlanta Board of Education policy review committee approved revisions to the district purchasing and credit-card policy (DJEA) and advanced several governance housekeeping items tied to a recent charter change.

General Counsel Madalena Gupta described DJEA's revisions as tightening procedures for district-issued purchasing cards and aligning practices with state law. She said the changes explicitly prohibit cash-equivalent withdrawals, require wholesale-club memberships (for example, Costco) to be in the district's name rather than an individual employee's, and limit furniture and appliance purchases to conditions listed in the policy.

Committee members raised only minor clarifying questions. After a motion to move the policy to final approval, the committee approved DJEA by voice vote.

Separately, the committee approved housekeeping changes that reflect the charter amendment shifting certain reporting lines (for example, the executive director to the board and the internal-audit function reporting to administration). The committee voted to move policies BBA and related board-regulation items forward for final approval in June so the full board can take formal action.

Motions regarding DJEA and the governance items were moved and seconded in committee; vote tallies were recorded by voice and the items were carried.