State Representatives Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates), Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), and Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia) recently convened an emergency meeting of the DeKalb House Delegation to address the recent indictment of DeKalb County School Superintendent Dr. Devon Horton.
Rep. Karla Drenner, the delegation chair, also recently established a special subcommittee charged with gathering facts, reviewing current state law, and exploring potential legislation to prevent similar situations in the future.
Commenting on this incident and the importance of transparency and ethical leadership within government, Drenner stated that “our first obligation is to the students, parents, teachers, and taxpayers of DeKalb County." “We are committed to working together, with transparency and fairness, to ensure that our school system remains focused on academic excellence and ethical leadership," she added.
Rep. Doreen Carter also weighed in on the mission of the subcommittee and the importance of gathering all of the right facts. “This subcommittee will listen carefully, act thoughtfully, and operate transparently,” Carter stated. “Our community has spoken loudly and clearly — they expect better from all of us entrusted with the care of our children’s education. We are determined to honor that expectation through thoughtful review and meaningful reform.”
For context, Dr. Horton is facing charges filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. The indictment accuses the superintendent and three others of attempting to defraud the 65th District of money and property.
The DeKalb House delegation emphasizes that while Dr. Horton has not been convicted of any crime and is entitled to due process, its duty is to protect the integrity of DeKalb County’s educational system and the public’s trust in school governance.
The delegation also reaffirmed its intent to work in cooperation with the DeKalb County Board of Education, state education agencies, and community stakeholders to identify gaps in policy and oversight.
The new subcommittee will be chaired by Rep. Carter and include Reps. Karen Lupton (D-Chamblee) and Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain). The officers of the delegation are Chair Drenner, Vice Chair Davis, and Secretary Long Tran (D-Dunwoody), whowill serve as ex officio members.
