Ragsdale framed the decision as part of the district’s routine, ongoing book review process and an extension of its commitment to transparency and student safety. According to the district, several passages in the novel were found during that review to violate Cobb’s content standards for materials available to middle and high school students.

What the District Said

In presenting its findings, the district issued a content advisory noting that a passage from the novel depicts the rape of an 11-year-old girl by her father, described in graphic language. The district said the quotations it reviewed were drawn from noncontinuous selections of the text, with ellipses marking omitted language, and that officials weighed both the language itself and its surrounding context before reaching their decision.

“The words speak for themselves,” Ragsdale said. “Both as a father and as a superintendent, I think about a parent having to explain to their sixth-grade daughter after she encounters explicit descriptions of child incest and rape in a book provided at school, without parents’ knowledge. As the superintendent responsible for the instruction of 100,000 students, I do not have the luxury of making that decision for other parents and their children.”

The district emphasized that other works by Morrison remain available in Cobb schools; only “The Bluest Eye” is being removed.

Cobb’s library media rule allows qualified personnel to evaluate instructional materials and gives parents a formal process for raising concerns about specific titles. The rule also requires that library materials support the curriculum and district goals and comply with Georgia law, including provisions addressing material considered harmful to minors.

The district’s announcement also pointed families toward school counselors and social workers for students who may be struggling or going through a difficult time.

About the Novel

“The Bluest Eye” was Morrison’s first novel and is set in Lorain, Ohio, where the author herself was born. It follows Pecola Breedlove, an 11-year-old Black girl who becomes convinced that lighter skin and blue eyes would change the course of her life. Pecola lives in a household marked by violence and instability; over the course of the novel, she becomes pregnant after being raped by her alcoholic father, Cholly.

Since its publication, the novel has repeatedly appeared on the American Library Association’s list of most frequently challenged books. Reasons cited by challengers over the years have included concerns about sexually explicit material and disturbing content, alongside more ideological objections; one challenge described it simply as a “bad book.”

When Morrison accepted the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993, she spoke of future generations of writers who, like her, would not shy away from difficult material — writers whose imaginations, she said, “do not blink nor turn away.” In the decades since “The Bluest Eye” was published, Morrison’s willingness to confront painful and hard-to-tell stories became a hallmark of her work and a reason her novels have long been taught in high school classrooms.

Part of a Broader National Trend

Cobb’s decision comes amid a broader wave of school book removals nationwide. According to PEN America, a nonprofit that tracks censorship in schools, educators and administrators recorded 6,870 instances of book bans during the 2024–2025 school year across 23 states and 87 public school districts. Since the organization began tracking bans in July 2021, it has logged 22,810 cases across 45 states and 451 districts.

PEN America has argued that book-banning pressure, once driven mainly by state and local action, gained a new federal dimension in 2025. The organization points to a series of executive orders issued by the Trump administration, including “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism,” and “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” — which it says have been framed around “parents’ rights” language similar to rhetoric previously used in states like Florida to advance school book restrictions. PEN America characterizes that rhetoric as being used, in many cases, against the wishes of parents, students, and educators who oppose the removals.

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The DeKalb County Board of ÌÇÐÄvlog will consider naming Dr. Norman C. Sauce III as the finalist for Superintendent of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) during its monthly meeting on Monday, September 14, 2026.

The item is included on the Board’s meeting agenda for consideration and a vote. If approved, Dr. Sauce would become the finalist in the Board’s search for the district’s next permanent superintendent. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72(a)(11), the name of a finalist must be made public at least 14 calendar days before the meeting at which a final vote is taken. The Board’s final vote on the appointment is expected to take place October 5, 2026.

“This is a significant moment for the DeKalb County School District and the students, families, employees, and communities we serve,” said Board Chair Allyson Gevertz. “The Board has carefully considered the leadership qualities and experience needed to guide our District forward. We look forward to continuing this important process and to making a decision that reflects our commitment to providing strong, stable leadership for DCSD.”

Dr. Sauce has served as the district’s interim superintendent since November 2025, leading the organization through a period of transition while focusing on student achievement, operational excellence and community engagement.

“I am deeply humbled and honored to be considered for this opportunity to continue serving the students, employees, families, and communities of the DeKalb County School District,” Dr. Sauce said. “DeKalb is a remarkable school district with extraordinary potential, and I remain committed to working forward together alongside our dedicated employees and community to build on our strengths, address our challenges, and ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed.”

The Board of ÌÇÐÄvlog meeting will take place Monday, September 14. The meeting agenda and additional information are available through the DeKalb County School District website. More details are expected to follow the Board’s meeting.

A District Still Recovering From Leadership Turmoil

Monday’s vote comes less than a year after DCSD’s last permanent superintendent, Dr. Devon Horton, resigned amid federal fraud charges — turmoil that set the current search into motion.

On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the DeKalb County Board of ÌÇÐÄvlog voted 6-1 to accept Horton’s resignation, effective November 15, 2025. Board member Melanie Slaton cast the lone vote against the decision.

Horton’s resignation followed a federal indictment alleging he had accepted kickbacks on contracts while serving as superintendent of a small school district in a Chicago suburb, prior to joining DeKalb County Schools.

“Given the recent federal indictment involving Dr. Horton related to his employment in a prior school district, the Board believes this action is in the best interest of the DeKalb County School District,” then-Board Chair Deirdre Pierce said at the time. “We recognize the seriousness of the situation and remain committed to transparency, accountability, and maintaining public trust. While there will be changes ahead, please know that the Board remains fully committed to our ongoing work, including key initiatives such as the Student Assignment Project (SAP), and providing a high-quality education for all students.”

Horton was relieved of his duties the Thursday before the board vote. The following day, the district appointed Dr. Norman C. Sauce III as interim superintendent.

“The board has full confidence in Dr. Sauce’s leadership during this transition,” Pierce added at the time. “His experience, steady demeanor, and strong relationships within the district will help ensure continuity and focus on what matters most — the continued success of our students and staff.”

Alongside accepting Horton’s resignation, the school board voted unanimously, 7-0, to authorize a forensic audit of district contracts and Horton’s purchasing card (P-card) statements. The audit was intended to ensure full transparency and accountability across the district’s spending and procurement processes. In a statement to parents at the time, the Board promised a seamless leadership transition.

What Comes Next

If the Board votes to name Dr. Sauce the finalist on September 14, state law requires a mandatory 14-day waiting period before a final vote can be taken, positioning the Board’s anticipated final decision for October 5, 2026. Results of the forensic audit into Horton’s tenure have not been publicly released.

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MARIETTA, Ga. — Two Wheeler High School students are facing criminal charges after school officials say a firearm was brought onto the campus Thursday, according to the Cobb County School District and Principal Sara Fetterman.

Fetterman notified the school community in a message sent Friday morning, saying an investigation by Wheeler administrators and the Cobb County School District Police Department led to the arrests Thursday afternoon.

“Everyone is safe,” Fetterman wrote, adding that law enforcement confirmed the two students are in custody and facing criminal charges. She said she could not release further details, citing the ongoing investigation and student privacy protections. Authorities have not released the students’ names or specified the exact charges they face.

In the same message, Fetterman said the Wheeler community is also mourning the death of another student, though she did not elaborate on the circumstances.

A Firm Warning From the Principal

Addressing the firearm incident directly, Fetterman said the school is equipped to catch students who violate weapons policies.

“I cannot say this forcefully enough: We have many tools and officers at Wheeler, including gunpowder-detecting dogs,” she wrote. “If a student brings a weapon to our campus, they will be caught. They will also face the harshest possible penalties that the law allows.”

She warned students of the lasting consequences of such actions. “A mistake like this could ruin the rest of your life. Don’t do it,” she wrote, closing her message by pledging that “our leadership team will continue to keep doing everything we can to make sure Wheeler is a safe place for everyone.”

District Response

The Cobb County School District confirmed the incident was discovered at the Marietta-area high school and resulted in two student arrests. The district emphasized that campus safety remains a top priority and urged students, parents and staff to report any concerns involving weapons or other potential threats through the district’s safety tip line.

Part of a Broader Pattern

Thursday’s arrests come just weeks after another Cobb County student was taken into custody for reportedly bringing a firearm to Campbell Middle School, raising renewed concern among parents and district officials about weapons on school campuses.

Wheeler High School has drawn additional attention this year after hosting a visit from President Donald Trump in July.

Investigation Ongoing

The investigation into Thursday’s incident remains active. Additional information — including how the firearm was discovered and the specific charges against the two students, could be released as the case develops. This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.

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Jeff Hubbard, president of the Cobb County Association of Educators, said teachers at eight different schools have been pulled into meetings with their principal and a district representative and asked why they left the speech early and whether they had permission to do so. Most of those who left did so in the final 10 to 12 minutes of the nearly hourlong address.

The speech itself drew controversy for its content. Ragsdale addressed a recent visit to Wheeler High School by President Trump, which he acknowledged some had called “divisive,” as well as the district’s decision to pull certain books from school libraries. In remarks about the book removals, Ragsdale told the room, “If I sound [ticked] off I am, everybody in education should be that they’re trying to use you as teachers to condition kids of something as tragic as trafficking.”

, a citizen watchdog group, brought concerns from roughly 30 anonymous teachers to a school board meeting last week. According to the group’s founder, Heather Tolley-Bauer, educators described Ragsdale as equating library books with child sex trafficking and suggesting that anyone who disagreed with him was complicit in it.

“What the teachers told us [was] that he was equating books with child sex trafficking and telling these educators that if you don’t agree with me, then you’re complicit in sex trafficking our children,” Tolley-Bauer said.

Five days after that board meeting, Hubbard said, teachers began being pulled from class for questioning. He said one educator who left the speech was a survivor of sexual assault and stepped out after the remarks triggered difficult memories.

“I’ve had one person who was a victim of sexual assault, and it triggered horrible memories. And the person for her mental health had to step out,” Hubbard said.

Hubbard said the meetings have left some educators worried about possible retaliation, and that the district has told the union only that “next steps will be addressed next week.” He argued that adults should be able to leave a speech without having to justify the decision afterward.

“These people are adults,” Hubbard said. “What message are you sending to your employees if you disagree with something if you’re suddenly being called into the carpet because you stepped out in the last 10-12 minutes of a speech.”

He added that the episode undercut what should have been an energizing start to the school year. “This should be a joyous event to get people fired up about the beginning of the school year. Instead, many people felt like their professionalism was being attacked,” he said.

Tolley-Bauer called on the school board to intervene. “Our teachers deserve better than this, and it is up to our school board to rein him in and make sure that he is doing the job that he is tasked with doing,” she said.

A Cobb County School District spokesperson said leadership is continuing conversations with individual educators “to ensure alignment and communication.”

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Kemp signed an executive order Monday suspending Amanda Smith, John Bell, Jeff Davis, Joanna Glover, Peggy Johnson, James Lanier and Kenny Walters. The suspensions follow a recommendation from the State Board of ÌÇÐÄvlog after an Aug. 12 hearing.

The move comes after the Dublin City Board of ÌÇÐÄvlog notified the state that the district had been placed at the accreditation level immediately preceding a full loss of accreditation. That notification triggered a process under Georgia law, culminating in the Aug. 12 state board hearing. Following that hearing, the state board recommended that Kemp suspend all eligible members of the Dublin school board.

Last week, the Georgia Board of ÌÇÐÄvlog unanimously voted to recommend the suspensions in connection with a $20 million financial crisis within the district — a shortfall that has already led to 46 job cuts and the removal of top leadership.

Kemp is now moving to temporarily fill the vacated seats. His executive order establishes a four-member Dublin City Board of ÌÇÐÄvlog Nominating Committee, which will recommend temporary replacements for Kemp to appoint.

Matt Donaldson, the State Board of ÌÇÐÄvlog member representing the congressional district that includes Dublin, will chair the committee. Other members include the state representative serving the area, former Dublin Mayor Phil Best, and Dublin community member Edwin May.

The governor’s order, signed Aug. 17, does not detail the specific issues that led to the district’s current accreditation status, nor does it specify a timeline for selecting temporary board members.

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A district spokesperson confirmed that the incident happened Tuesday and said multiple layers of safety measures helped staff respond quickly.

“We can confirm that a weapon was recovered from a student at Campbell Middle School yesterday,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “Thanks to multiple layers of safety supports, including students and staff who did as they are trained, we were able to respond immediately, secure the situation, and take the student into custody.”

According to the spokesperson, the Cobb County School District Police Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and is working with other law enforcement agencies.

“We are grateful that the safety protocols at Campbell Middle worked,” the spokesperson said.

One parent, James Wilson, told reporters his 12-year-old son was in fourth period when another seventh grader allegedly threatened him with a gun before he and a friend got away and told an administrator. A Cobb County School District police officer then confiscated the weapon, and the student involved was taken into custody.

The district said in a letter to the school community that the incident did not lead to a lockdown because it was resolved quickly, and officials noted that while the district uses “Vapor Wake” detection dogs trained to sniff out firearms, those dogs are stationed at every high school but not deployed at the middle school level — a gap some parents say needs to be addressed.

School officials have not released additional details about the type of weapon recovered, the student’s age, or any potential charges. The investigation remains ongoing.

This is a developing story.

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The Hearing

Wednesday’s hearing gave both the state and Dublin boards the chance to lay out their cases before the vote. It marked the second attempt to resolve the matter — the state first tried to hold the hearing in June, but that session ended without a decision and was continued to this week.

How the Crisis Unfolded

Dublin City Schools has been under state scrutiny since last summer, when officials reported missed payments, out-of-control spending, and a growing budget deficit. The district ultimately faced a $20 million shortfall after the financial crisis came to light, prompting the state to step in with emergency payroll assistance.

In April, outside accrediting firm Cognia downgraded the district’s status from “accredited” to “accredited under conditions”, one step short of losing accreditation entirely, and the direct cause of Wednesday’s hearing.

To close the budget gap, district leaders have laid off more than three dozen employees, cut school days, and made additional spending reductions.

The State’s Case

Attorneys David Younker and Brian Tyson represented the Georgia Board of ÌÇÐÄvlog at the hearing. Younker argued that the evidence, spanning roughly 3,800 pages of documents, demonstrates individual board members, not just the district as a whole, knew about and approved the financial mismanagement.

“The evidence will establish each member’s individual involvement and knowledge, the reports each one signed, the plans each one approved, the meetings each one attended, each member’s actions, each member’s votes, and each member’s own words,” Younker said.

Younker also pointed to mismanagement predating former Dublin City Schools CFO Chad McDaniel’s tenure, characterizing the board’s defense as amounting to little more than: “Oh, just trust us and our plans because they won’t fail, hopefully.”

Dublin’s Defense

The district’s attorney, Brian Smith, placed the blame squarely on McDaniel, arguing he was trained by his predecessor to obscure the district’s true financial condition.

“The district’s finance director Chad McDaniel deceived, misled, lied to, and betrayed the Dublin City Board of ÌÇÐÄvlog,” Smith said. “For years, he intentionally and knowingly hid the true state of the district’s finances.”

What Comes Next

With the state board’s suspension vote now official, the decision moves to Governor Kemp, who has not indicated a timeline for when he will rule on whether to accept it.

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The suspect, a ninth grader at the school, faces charges of Aggravated Assault with a firearm, Disrupting Public Schools, Receiving Stolen Property, Possession of a handgun by someone under 18, and Possession of a gun in a school safety zone, according to court documents.

What Happened

According to the sheriff’s office, two students got into an argument inside a school restroom Wednesday that escalated into a physical fight. During the altercation, one of the students pulled out a gun and shot the other.

A sheriff’s deputy assigned to the school responded to the scene, found the injured student, and rendered aid. The victim, also a ninth grader, is expected to survive his injuries.

The Arrest

Sheriff Matt Moulton said the suspect fled the school following the shooting. He was located roughly an hour later at a playground slide in a nearby neighborhood and taken into custody.

Moulton confirmed Wednesday that the suspect was enrolled as a ninth grader at Warner Robins High School.

What’s Next

The case is proceeding through the juvenile justice system, with the suspect’s first court appearance held Thursday. Further details on the investigation, including how the suspect obtained the firearm, have not yet been released.

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A Five-Year Downward Trend

The rate, which measures the percentage of students absent for 10% or more of enrolled school days, dropped from 19.5% the previous year and has fallen significantly from its pandemic-era peak of 23.9% in 2021-2022. The progress puts Georgia further along in meeting its commitment to the national 50% Challenge, an effort to cut chronic absenteeism in half over five years.

Early grades saw particularly strong gains, with chronic absenteeism among K-5 students falling to 13.5% — a trend officials say is critical to preserving recent improvements in early literacy.

State Leaders React

State School Superintendent Richard Woods credited the improvement to sustained collaboration among schools, districts, families, and lawmakers, while cautioning that the work is far from finished. He described the effort as “a marathon, not a sprint,” emphasizing that daily, consistent access to learning remains the goal for all students.

Hedy Chang, President and CEO of Attendance Works, which co-leads the 50% Challenge alongside EdTrust and AEI’s Nat Malkus, praised Georgia’s practice of releasing attendance data early in the year. She said the timing allows districts to act quickly on the information and called the state’s approach to data transparency “a model” for other states.

District-Level Successes

Individual districts have reported notable turnarounds. Whitfield County Schools saw an 11.3% drop in chronic absenteeism among grades 9-12, which officials attributed to targeted use of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) practices, improved family communication, and efforts to recognize student success.

Griffin-Spalding County Schools also cited gains tied to its participation in the state’s Attendance Advisory Council, along with data-driven collaboration through Attendance Review Teams and targeted interventions for students facing barriers to attendance.

Tools to Sustain Progress

To support continued improvement, the Georgia Department of ÌÇÐÄvlog’s Office of Whole Child Supports has worked with Regional ÌÇÐÄvlog Service Agencies and other state partners to develop new resources, including a statewide Community of Practice, the Georgia Goes to School Attendance Toolkit, and a new Model Attendance Protocol.

The state has also enhanced its statewide Attendance Dashboard, giving districts real-time data to identify root causes of absenteeism. The updated dashboard allows districts to track compliance with SB 123 — legislation strengthening Georgia’s compulsory attendance laws — monitor students missing 20% or more of school days, analyze regional trends, and distinguish between excused and unexcused absences.

Justin Hill, GaDOE’s Deputy Superintendent for Whole Child Supports, said the state’s tiered support systems are helping schools catch attendance issues earlier and respond with more targeted interventions, crediting partnerships with organizations such as Attendance Works, the Center on Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports, and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia.

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The event at the East Cobb school is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m., according to an event listing that allows members of the public to register for tickets. Registration does not guarantee admission, and it is unclear how much space has been set aside for the general public.

What we know about the visit

Timing and travel. It is not clear precisely when the president will depart Washington, D.C., for metro Atlanta. He appears likely to fly into Dobbins Air Reserve Base ahead of the event.

Location and traffic. Wheeler High School sits on Holt Road, a short distance north of Lower Roswell Road. Neighborhoods near the campus may face restricted access, and residents should plan for disruptions.

Who’s attending. Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson will be among those in attendance, his campaign confirmed. Whether current state officials such as Gov. Brian Kemp plan to attend remains unclear.

Rep. Mike Collins, who is running for Senate, had been expected to attend according to his campaign, but said Wednesday on X that he remained in Washington for votes.

“While I wish I could be standing with the President today in Cobb County, the people of Georgia need me here in D.C. to make their voice heard,” Collins wrote.

The initiative

White House spokeswoman Liz Huston framed the initiative as an investment in children’s long-term financial security.

“President Trump is giving every American child a head start in life, a nest egg to grow up with, and a real stake in their own future through Trump Accounts,” Huston said.

District welcomes the visit

The Cobb County School District announced the visit last week, saying it offers an “opportunity to showcase the academic excellence, exceptional educators, and high-achieving students that have made Cobb Schools a national leader in public education.”

District officials said they were honored that the president chose Cobb for an event highlighting education and student achievement.

“We look forward to welcoming the President and showcasing the high-quality academic choices which make Cobb the best place to raise a family,” said John Floresta, the district’s chief strategy and accountability officer.

The district serves 105,738 students across 112 schools. Among the figures it highlighted:

• Georgia’s second-largest public school district and the 23rd-largest in the nation
• Ranked first in metro Atlanta on the 2024–25 Georgia Milestones in five tested subjects
• 22 National Blue Ribbon Schools and 56 Georgia Schools of Excellence
• Student performance that consistently exceeds state and national averages on the ACT and SAT
• An 89.2% graduation rate, above both state and national averages
• More than $160 million in scholarships awarded to the Class of 2026

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