February 25 - February 26, 2025 board retreat and executive session revised 3.10.25

                  2-DAY BOARD RETREAT AND EXECUTIVE SESSION
                                   OF THE
                      DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

                                February 25 – February 26, 2025

The DeKalb County Board of Education held its 2-Day Board Retreat and Executive Session,
February 25 – February 26, 2025, at the Emory Conference Center located at 1615 Clifton Road
N E, Atlanta, GA 30329.

Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce, Chair, convened the meeting at 12:58 p.m. and noted the following were
in attendance; Vice Chair, Ms. Allyson Gevertz, Mr. Andrew Ziffer, Ms. Whitney McGinniss,
Tiffany Hogan, Ph.D., and Dr. Devon Q. Horton, Superintendent. Mr. Awet Eyasu attended the
board retreat virtually and then joined the meeting in person. Immediate past chair, Mr. Diijon
DaCosta, Sr., joined the meeting in person at 1:11 p.m.

Also in attendance was Ms. Carolyn Lloyd, Executive Director of Board Operations. General
Counsel, Ms. Melanie Slaton, joined the meeting in person at 1:39 p.m.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
Mrs. Pierce asked if there were any objections to adopt the agenda for the February 25 – February
26, 2025, 2-day board retreat and executive session.
With no objections, the agenda was approved.
BOARD RETREAT & EXECUTIVE SESSION ~ FEBRUARY 25, 2025 (DAY 1 – 12:30 PM)

       1. WELCOME & RETREAT OBJECTIVES
          By: Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce, Board Chair.

       2. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION – Day 1

           a. Team Building Activities
              Presented by: Ms. Julia Bernath, Board Development Specialist, Georgia School
              Board Association (GSBA)

           b. Open Group Discussion
              Presented by: Ms. Julia Bernath, Board Development Specialist, Georgia School
              Board Association (GSBA)

           c. Professional Development
              Presented by: Ms. Julia Bernath, Board Development Specialist, Georgia School
              Board Association (GSBA)

RECESS BOARD RETREAT & EXECUTIVE SESSION ~ DAY 1
Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education recess Day 1,
February 25, 2025, of the 2-day board retreat and executive session. On a motion by Mr. DaCosta,
Sr. second by Mr. Eyasu, and a vote of 7/0. Day 1 of the board retreat recessed at 4:57 PM.
DeKalb Board of Education
February 25 – February 26, 2025
Page 2 of 3




BOARD RETREAT & EXECUTIVE SESSION ~ FEBRUARY 26, 2025 (DAY 2 – 9:00 AM)

Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce, Chair, convened the meeting at 9:44 a.m. and noted the following were
in attendance; Vice Chair, Ms. Allyson Gevertz, Mr. Andrew Ziffer, Ms. Whitney McGinniss,
Tiffany Hogan, Ph.D., Mr. Diijon DaCosta, Sr., Mr. Awet Eyasu, and Dr. Devon Q. Horton,
Superintendent.

Also in attendance were General Counsel Attorney, Ms. Melanie Slaton and Ms. Carolyn Lloyd,
Executive Director of Board Operations.

RECONVENE BOARD RETREAT & EXECUTIVE SESSION ~ DAY 2
Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce, Board Chair, called the DeKalb County Board of Education to reconvene
the 2-day board retreat and executive session to order. On a motion by Ms. McGinniss, second by
Ms. Gevertz, and a vote of 6/0 the board retreat reconvened at 9:44 a.m.

ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mrs. Pierce, called for a motion to adjourn February 26, 2025, Day 2 of the board retreat to an
executive session for the purpose of discussing permitted matters regarding litigation, land, legal,
personnel, and student appeals.

On a motion by Mr. DaCosta, Sr., second by Mr. Eyasu, and with a vote of (7/0), the February
26, 2025, board retreat adjourned to Executive Session.

ADJOURN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mrs. Pierce, called for a motion to adjourn the February 26, 2025, Day 2 executive session

On a motion by Mr. Eyasu, second by Mr. Ziffer, and with a vote of (6/0), the February 26, 2025,
board retreat adjourned to Executive Session.

       1. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION – Day 2

           a. Millage Rate Discussion
              Presented by: Ms. Lauren Scott, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Division of Finance

           b. Prioritization of E-SPLOST Items
               Mr. Erick Hofstetter, Chief Operating Officer, Division of Operations

           c. B-Policy Discussion
              Presented by: Ms. Whitney McGinniss, Committee Chair,
              Mr. Diijon DaCosta, Sr., Committee Vice Chair
DeKalb Board of Education
February 25 – February 26, 2025
Page 3 of 3

           d. Informational Session
              Presentation by: Dr. Devon Q. Horton, Superintendent,
              Ms. Melanie Slaton, General Counsel, Hall Booth Smith, P.C. Attorneys at Law,

ADJOURN
Mrs. Pierce, Board Chair requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education adjourn the 2
day, February 25 – 26, 2025 Board Retreat.

On a motion by _________, second by __________, Mrs. Pierce. noted that the 2-day board
retreat adjourned at 3:15 p.m.


_______________________                    ____________________________
Secretary Ex-Officio                       Chair