April 30 - May 1, 2025 2-Day Board Retreat & Executive Session

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

                                     April 30 – May 1, 2025

The DeKalb County Board of Education held its 2-Day Board Retreat and Executive Session, April
30 – May 1, 2025, at the Courtyard Atlanta Decatur Downtown/Emory located at 130 Clairemont
Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030.

Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce, Chair, convened the meeting at 9:27 a.m. and noted the following were in
attendance; Vice Chair, Ms. Allyson Gevertz, Mr. Andrew Ziffer, Ms. Whitney McGinniss, Mr.
Diijon DaCosta, Sr., Mr. Awet Eyasu, and Dr. Devon Q. Horton, Superintendent. Tiffany Hogan,
Ph.D. joined the meeting, in person, at 12:43 pm.

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

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
Mrs. Pierce asked if there were any objections to adopt the agenda for the April 30 – May 1, 2025,
2-day board retreat and executive session.
With no objections, the agenda was approved.
BOARD RETREAT & EXECUTIVE SESSION ~ (DAY 1 ~ PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT ~ APRIL 30, 2025, ~ 9:00 AM)

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

       2. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION ~ Day 1

           a. Board Governance & Effective Meetings
              Presented by: Ms. Zenda Bowie, Consultant, Georgia School Board Association
              (GSBA)

           b. Norms, Protocols & Best Practices in the Art of Leadership
              Presented by: Dr. Donna Hinton, Senior Board Development Specialist, Georgia
              School Board Association (GSBA)

           c. Board Office Procedures
              Presented by: Ms. Carolyn Lloyd, Executive Director of Board Operations,
              Ms. Tracy Pinson, Executive Assistant to the Board
              Ms. Cheryl McEwan, Executive Specialist to the Board

RECESS BOARD RETREAT & EXECUTIVE SESSION ~ DAY 1
Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education recess Day 1, April
30, 2025, of the 2-day board retreat and executive session.
DeKalb Board of Education
March 30 – April 1, 2025
Page 2 of 3

On a motion by Mr. Eyasu, second by Ms. McGinniss, and a vote of 6/0. Day 1 of the board retreat
recessed at 4:25 pm.

CALLED TO ORDER ~ DAY 2 ~ BOARD RETREAT & EXECUTIVE SESSION ~ MAY
1, 2025, ~ 9:00 AM

Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce, Chair, called the board retreat to order at 9:31 a.m. and noted the
following were in attendance; Vice Chair, Ms. Allyson Gevertz, Mr. Andrew Ziffer, Ms.
Whitney McGinniss, Mr. Awet Eyasu.

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

Mr. Diijon DaCosta, Sr., and Dr. Devon Q. Horton, Superintendent joined the meeting in person
at 10:30 am.

Tiffany Hogan, Ph.D. joined the meeting in person at 12:30 pm.

RECONVENE BOARD RETREAT & EXECUTIVE SESSION ~ DAY 2
Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce, Board Chair, called for a motion for 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 Mr. Eyasu and a vote of 5/0 the board retreat reconvened at 9:31 am.

       1. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION – Day 2

           a. Safety & Discipline Update
              Presented by: Mr. Elijah Palmer, Chief of Staff, Chief of Staff Division,
              Kishia K. Towns, Ph.D., Chief of Wrap Around Services, Division of Wrap Around
              Services

           b. Foundation Update
              Presented by: Dr. Yolanda Williamson, Chief of Community Engagement &
              Innovative Partnerships, Division of Community Engagement & Innovative
              Partnerships

           c. Election of Audit Committee Advisory Members
              Presented by: Mr. Joel Thibodeaux, Director of Internal Audits & Compliance, Chief
              of Staff Division

              Mr. Joel Thibodeaux, Director of Internal Audits & Compliance, Chief of Staff
              Division, requested that the Board of Education elect no more than three (3)
              Community Advisors to the Audit Committee.
DeKalb Board of Education
March 30 – April 1, 2025
Page 3 of 3

              With a motion by Ms. Gevertz to accept 3 advisory members, second by Mr. Eyasu,
              opposition by Mr. DaCosta, Sr. and Tiffany Hogan, Ph.D. and with a vote of 5/2, the
              motion passed. Ms. Cathy Iconis, Ms. Tambria M. Peeples, and Mr. James B.
              Williams were elected as community advisors to the Audit Committee.

           d. E-SPLOST VI Priorities
              Presented by: Mr. Antwyn Brown, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Division of
              Operations

           e. FY26 Budget
              Presented by: Mr. Byron Schueneman, Chief Financial Officer, Division of Finance

ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mrs. Pierce, called for a motion to adjourn May 1, 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 April 1,
2025, board retreat adjourned to Executive Session.

ADJOURN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mrs. Pierce informed the public that the board would adjourn after executive session because
they would not have any items to vote on.

ADJOURN
Mrs. Pierce, Board Chair requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education adjourn the
April 30 – May 1, 2025, 2-Day Board Retreat & Executive session.

With no objections, Mrs. Pierce. noted that the 2-day board retreat adjourned at 5:45 p.m.


_______________________                       ____________________________
Secretary Ex-Officio                          Chair