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Clarke County School Board Places Superintendent Means on Administrative Leave

The Clarke County Board of Education has decided the fate of superintendent Demond Means.

After spending more than two hours in executive session, after a called meeting Monday afternoon, the board voted to place Dr. Means on administrative leave and appoint Dr. Xernona Thomas as acting chief executive until a new superintendent is appointed.

Board President LaKeisha Gantt, who voted against the motion, spoke briefly after the decision.

“We elect representatives, and sometimes things may not turn out how we want them to,” according to Gantt. “sometimes when you’re in the moment, it’s hard to know what side of history you’re on. I respect the work of the board; the board is one.”

Gantt did not confirm whether Means will be paid during that leave.

“I’d just like to say that I am very sad to be the one making this motion, and I know…”

The meeting had to stop briefly when Patricia Yager was shouted down by the mostly pro-Means crowd when she attempted to thank Means after she made that motion, which was seconded by Greg Davis.

The vote was five-three for the motion to place Means on Administrative leave. Greg Davis, Patricia Yager, Kara Dyckman, John Knox and Tawana Mattox voted in favor, with members Linda Davis, Charles Worthy and Lakeisha Gantt voting against.

During that meeting there was an impassioned plea from District 2 candidate Mary Bagby who urged the crowd to hold the board members accountable who voted against Means

“They have already voted and when they come out here it’s a mockery, it’s sham,” Bagby said.

Dr. Means did attend the meeting and was there before the board went into executive session. He was not there when the announcement was made.

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