I emailed these questions to CSD’s Board of Education on Tuesday, August 11. I received these replies on Wednesday August 12. Board and staff replies are in bold.
Dear City Schools of Decatur Board of Education and Superintendent:
During today’s meeting or in writing this week, would you please answer the following questions. Doing so could help the community coalesce and move forward.
Answer from Board Chair Sulton: “Dr. Burton: Can you help answer question 1?”
1. How many children in the City of Decatur do you estimate do not attend a high-quality ECLC/daycare because their families are unable to afford it? What are your projections for that number going forward? This is an attempt to understand unmet need so that our community can, in good faith, find a solution. I will support an effort to make sure every kid in Decatur who needs tuition-free daycare/ECLC gets it.
2. Please share how much it would cost to update/upgrade existing buildings to meet that unmet need. Our community should be able to consider the costs of the alternatives when considering an ECLC.
Answer from CSD’s Chief Operating Officer Jarvis Adams: Before engaging another design team, CSD must first address its current contractual commitments with Parrish Construction as the Construction Manager at Risk, GMC as the architect, and Ascension Program Management for the current ECLC project. Once those contractual matters are resolved, CSD will engage a new design team to identify and evaluate space options for increasing access to early learning. This work will include assessing whether existing district facilities can be renovated, upgraded, expanded, or repurposed to support additional early-learning opportunities.The evaluation will consider facility capacity, existing conditions, code requirements, program needs, and the scope of necessary improvements. We will target a planning budget comparable to the original, approximately $35 million ECLC budget. However, the final estimate will depend on the options developed, the design team’s findings, and current construction market conditions.
3. Please share updates on any plans to renovate and repair other buildings.
Answer from CSD’s Chief Operating Officer Jarvis Adams: CSD is beginning development of its 2028–2033 Long-Range Facilities Plan. The attached internal project overview summarizes renovations, modifications, construction, and additions identified in the 2022–2027 plan submitted to the Georgia Department of Education. Each item must now be validated against current conditions, completion status, updated costs, and district priorities before being included in the new plan.
4. Will you please commit to putting long-term financing plans for a new ECLC to a public referendum. If not, why not?
Answer from Board Chair Sulton “Question 4 will be a discussion, I’m sure, with any future financing plans. I invite you to listen to the meeting from yesterday (if you were unable to attend).”
5. Will Board Member James Herndon please share in writing with the public the circumstances in which he would abstain from voting on issues related to finances or the ECLC. We shouldn’t need to wait until votes and meetings to know if he’s going to vote or not.
Answer from Board Chair Sulton: “I am sure Board member Herndon can reply to question 5”
6. Would you please publish P-card line items with dates and not try to slow/stop scrutiny with inflated hourly estimates or ORR requests? For 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Answer from Board Chair Sulton: “Dr. Broome: Can you help with information for question 6? Or, could you perhaps find the P-Card spend in the vendor report? Just an idea to see the quickest way to find this information. At any rate, could you perhaps explain how P-cards are used on a day to day basis, and for what purpose?”
Second reply from Board Chair Sulton: “Good Afternoon Mr. Nouraee, I spoke with the Finance and Legal teams. Question #6 will require an Open Records Request. I apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you. Carmen
7. Please explain why Superintendent Whitaker has not been suspended pending the investigation’s outcome? Her statement about her husband’s work being separate from her work at CSD rings hollow after her husband invited his friends and colleagues to speak at the last board meeting, then THANKED THEM on his social media.
Answer from Board Chair Sulton: “Question 7 is a personnel matter. I am sorry that we, as a Board, cannot comment further at this time. I appreciate your patience as we work through this matter.”
8. Would the superintendent and the board please issue a statement assuring students, families, educators and staff that discrimination of any kind contradicts CSD’s values, and specifically name Muslim, Jewish and trans students and their families. Bigots keep attacking them by name. Leaders of our community owe it to them to support them by name.
Answer from Board Chair Sulton: ” I cannot speak on behalf of the Superintendent nor issue a statement on her behalf. Here is a statement the Board issued in June: “The Board is aware of concerns that have been raised regarding district leadership, we take them very seriously, and we are looking into it. The Board does not believe there is any place for hate in our community.”