Schools

New Land Deal Policy on Gwinnett School Board Agenda

The system delayed a vote from the May meeting.

The Gwinnett County school board again will consider a revised policy for land acquisitions Thursday at its June board meeting at headquarters in Suwanee.

The system has been embroiled in controversy recently over news reports of some recent purchases for school sites. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution series said several Gwinnett developers made large, quick profits off land sales to GCPS.

The five-member board tabled a vote on the policy at its May meeting.

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The revised policy, among other things, requires that any purchase agreement be posted on the GCPS website and be placed on the agenda for all board meetings. Also, the new policy allows for the use of eminent domain by GCPS if a landowner does not agree to sell for the highest appraised price.

The GCPS has initiated a third-party audit by a former federal prosecutor of all land acquisitions since 1999. The system is not sure when it will receive that report, but anticipates that it will occur within the next month, said spokesperson Jorge Quintana.

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The revised land-acquisition policy is on the GCPS website.

Thursday's board meeting will begin at 7 p.m., with a public forum to start at 6:30. A work session will be held at 2 p.m., with executive session expected to last until 4:30 p.m.


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