2-DAY BOARD RETREAT & EXECUTIVE SESSION
OF THE
DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
November 13 - November 14, 2025
The DeKalb County Board of Education held its 2-Day Board Retreat and Executive Session,
November 13 - November 14, 2025, at the Emory Conference Center located at 1615 Clifton Road
NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329.
Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce, Chair, convened the 1st day of the November 13 – November 14, 2025, 2-
day board retreat and executive session at 9:12 a.m. and noted the following were in attendance;
Vice Chair, Ms. Allyson Gevertz, Mr. Andrew B. Ziffer, Ms. Whitney McGinniss, Tiffany
Hogan, Ph.D., and Acting Superintendent, Dr. Norman C. Sauce III. Mr. Diijon DaCosta, Sr.,
attended the meeting at 9:19 a.m.
Also in attendance was Ms. Carolyn Lloyd, Executive Director of Board Operations, Mr. Ennis
Harvey, Interim Chief of Staff, Mr. H. Eric Hilton, Chief Legal Officer, Mrs. Marissa Key,
Executive Director Office of Legal Affairs, and Mrs. Jennifer Caracciolo, Interim Chief of
Community Engagement & Innovative Partnerships.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
Mrs. Pierce asked if there were any objections to adopting the agenda for the November 13 -
November 14, 2025, 2-day board retreat and executive session.
With no objections, the agenda was adopted.
BOARD RETREAT & TRAINING SESSION ~ DAY 1 ~ November 13, 2025
WELCOME & OVERVIEW
By: Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce, Board Chair
TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
1. Finalize Board Norms & Protocols
Facilitated by: Mrs. Julia Bernath, Board Development Specialist, Georgia
School Board Association (GSBA)
2. Board Self-Assessment Results / Discussion
Facilitated by: Mrs. Julia Bernath, Board Development Specialist, Georgia
School Board Association (GSBA)
3. Preparing for the 2026 General Assembly & 2025 – 2026 Legislative
Priorities Discussion
Facilitated by: Mr. Thurbert Baker, Attorney General,
Mr. Edward Lindsey, Jr., Dentons
DeKalb Board of Education
November 13 - November 14, 2025
Page 2 of 4
Ms. McGinniss made a motion to revise Legislative Priority #5. With a second
by Ms. Gevertz, and a vote of 6/0, the motion passed.
Mr. DaCosta, Sr., was not in the room for the vote.
Mrs. Pierce left the retreat at @2:22 pm and rejoined virtually @ 2:38pm.
4. Policy Project Work with Georgia School Board Association (GSBA)
Presented by: Mrs. Marissa Key, Executive Director Office of Legal Affairs
Mr. DaCosta, Sr. left the retreat @ 2:36 pm and rejoined virtually @ 2:47 pm.
5. Board Committee Work for 2026
Facilitated by: Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce, Board Chair,
Ms. Allyson Gevertz, Vice Chair
RECESS BOARD RETREAT
Ms. Gevertz, Vice Chair requested a motion to recess the first day of the November 13 - November
14, 2025, 2-day board retreat and executive session.
With a motion by Ms. McGinniss, second by Hogan Ph.D., and a vote of 5/0, the board retreat
recessed @ 4:08 pm.
BOARD RETREAT & EXECUTIVE SESSION ~ DAY 2 ~ November 14, 2025
Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce, Chair, called the 2nd day of the board retreat to order at 9:02 a.m. and
noted the following were in attendance; Vice Chair, Ms. Allyson Gevertz, Mr. Andrew B. Ziffer,
Tiffany Hogan, Ph.D., Ms. Whitney McGinniss and Mr. Diijon DaCosta, Sr., Mr. Awet Eyasu,
and Acting Superintendent, Dr. Norman C. Sauce III.
Also in attendance was Ms. Carolyn Lloyd, Executive Director of Board Operations, Mr. Ennis
Harvey, Interim Chief of Staff, Mr. H. Eric Hilton, Chief Legal Officer, Mr. Johnathan Goldman,
Director of Communications, Mr. Byron Schueneman, Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Lauren
Scott, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Mrs. Regina Bagley, Director of Budget and Mr. Erick
Hofstetter, Chief Operating Officer.
Ms. Melanie Slaton, General Counsel Attorney, attended the retreat virtually.
RECONVENE BOARD RETREAT & EXECUTIVE SESSION ~ DAY 2
Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce called for a motion to reconvene the second day of the November 13 -
November 14, 2025, 2-day board retreat and executive session.
With a motion by Mr. DaCosta, Sr., second by Ms. McGinniss, and a vote of 7/0, the motion
passed.
DeKalb Board of Education
November 13 - November 14, 2025
Page 3 of 4
TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
1. Budget Discussion
Presented by: Mr. Byron Schueneman, Chief Financial Officer, Division of Finance
2. Druid Hills High School Modernization
Presented by: Mr. Erick Hofstetter, Chief Operating Officer, Division of Operations
ADJOURN TO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce requested a motion to adjourn day two of the November 13 - November 14,
2025, board retreat to an executive session for the purpose of discussing permitted matters
regarding land, legal, litigation, personnel and student appeals.
On a motion by Mr. Eyasu, second by Mr. Ziffer, and with a vote of (6/0), the November 13,
2025, board retreat adjourned to executive session.
Mr. DaCosta, Sr., was out of the room for the vote.
ADJOURN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mrs. Pierce called for a motion to adjourn the November 14, 2025, board retreat executive session.
On a motion by Mr. Eyasu, second by Mr. Ziffer. and with a vote of (6/0), the November 14,
2025, executive session adjourned.
ACTION ITEMS
APPROVAL OF AN ITEM(S) FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mrs. Pierce called for a motion to adopt the actions as discussed in Executive Session for:
a. Item: Approve the offer of a 1-year contract to Dr. Norman C. Sauce III as Interim
Superintendent effective November 16, 2025 – November 15, 2026.
On a motion by Mr. Eyasu, second by Ms. McGinniss, opposition by Hogan, Ph.D., and
with a vote of 5/1, the motion passed.
Due to an emergency, Mr. DaCosta, Sr., had to leave executive session prior to the vote on
the action item.
ADJOURN
Mrs. Pierce, Board Chair, requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education adjourn the
November 13 - November 14, 2025, 2-Day Board Retreat & Executive Session.
DeKalb Board of Education
November 13 - November 14, 2025
Page 4 of 4
With no objections, the November 13 - November 14, 2025, 2-day board retreat and executive
session adjourned at 12:35 p.m.
_______________________ ____________________________
Secretary Ex-Officio Chair