In a near-unanimous vote, the DeKalb County Board of Education approved the contract for new superintendent Dr. Devon Horton on Wednesday.
Horton, who was selected as the new superintendent for DeKalb County Schools last month, will begin in the new role on July 1, according to a release from the school district.
He was voted in on a 6-1 margin, solidifying his April selection.
Horton enters DCSD in July as the fourth superintendent for the district in as many years.
“Today represents an exciting new chapter for DeKalb County Schools as we enthusiastically welcome Dr. Horton into the District,” Diijon DaCosta, Sr., the board chair, said in a statement. “His vision, energy, innovative approaches, and deep understanding of the needs of our diverse scholars made him an exceptional choice.”
DaCosta added, “I am confident that this Board is fundamentally committed to working collaboratively with Dr. Horton to realize our shared vision. This includes providing more robust opportunities for our scholars and families as we continue working to restore the DeKalb County School District to its premier status as a great place for our staff to work, our scholars to learn, and everyone to grow.”
DCSD thanked those who provided input during the selection process, which they said included “various stakeholders, including staff, families, students, elected officials, and community members.”
Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes was at the April 19 meeting when Dr. Joyce Morley raised concerns about Horton’s hiring: “To have the record that’s coming with this guy, do you hate yourselves and hate the district and is the person in there doing the job that badly that you’re willing to sacrifice? Would you have this person running your household?”
Morley was the sole dissenting vote against the contract’s ratification during Wednesday’s board meeting.
Horton comes to DeKalb County from a position in Chicago, where he was the superintendent of Evanston/Skokie School District 65, a district with about 7,000 students.
While he prepares to move to Georgia before the new school year, Channel 2 Action News learned he remains a named defendant in a civil rights-focused lawsuit from 2021, alleging he violated federal law by treating Asian and White students different from Black and Brown students.
Horton will be employed from 2023 to 2025, with a base annual salary of $325,000 approved by board vote, as well as $1,500 per month for routine travel expenses along with a county vehicle, according to a copy of the contract obtained by Channel 2 Action News.
The incoming superintendent will be eligible to receive $20,000 for relocation according to the contract, and an option for a $2,000 per month housing stipend for two months while he seeks permanent housing in DeKalb.
Beginning in January 2024, the district will also put $15,000 into a supplemental retirement fund for Horton.
In addition to the various benefits of his contract, if the DeKalb County Board of Education chooses to terminate his employment, they would have to pay Horton up to 18 months of his salary as severance, depending on when the termination occurs.
Dr. Vasanne S. Tinsley currently serves as the interim superintendent for DCSD. She previously retired from a position as Deputy Superintendent of Student Support and Intervention, Tinsley was brought back to serve as interim superintendent in April 2022.