Athens NAACP is calling on the Clarke County School Board to hold a community meeting with the“sole finalist“ for school superintendent before he’s confirmed, because “we care about our children...”

Branch president Alvin Sheats says the selection of a sole finalist for the important position without community input “is baffling and antithetical to best practices in selecting a candidate for such a key position to serve our community.”In a letter this week to school board members, Mr. Sheats says the NAACP is “deeply concerned” about the method followed “in selecting a candidate to serve as the next CCSD Superintendent.”The board has announced Dr. Robbie Hooker as the sole finalist for school superintendent, pending a final confirmation vote. Dr. Hooker would assume full responsibilities effective October 10, 2022.  Current Superintendent, Dr. Xernona Thomas is retiring at the end of this year. 

A former principal at Clarke Central High School, Dr. Hooker currently serves as the Superintendent of Social Circle City Schools, a position he has held since 2019.

The selection process, Sheats says, “lacked any semblance of transparency or community involvement” and failed to follow “minimal protocols of fairness or equal opportunity.”

Not giving the community the courtesy of input and transparency is unacceptable and “puts a cloud over your nominee and (creates) discord in the community,” he adds.

He says the community must hear from Dr. Hooker prior to being confirmed.

Mr. Sheats writes: “Therefore, we respectfully request that you schedule a Town Hall meeting with Dr. Hooker and the Athens Clarke County community prior to your meeting to vote on his official appointment.”

Copies of the Sheats’ letter were forwarded to the state school superintendent and the accrediting agency Cognia, which has held CCSD accreditation “in review” status for several years.