Two top DeKalb County schools officials are suing the district and its leaders for breach of contract after they were suspended and demoted.
The two lawsuits filed Monday allege they were disciplined because they threatened interim Superintendent Norman Sauce’s chances of getting the permanent superintendent position.
Kia Billingsley served as chief academic officer and Michelle Dillard served as the district’s chief of schools.
The issue stems from a “spat” between Billingsley and Dillard during a meeting with two other executive staff members in late April, according to the complaints. They reported the issue to Sauce, but the complaints do not explain what happened during the dispute.
Dillard said in her complaint she felt confident the differences could be resolved and “that she would remain professional.”
Billingsley complaint states that Sauce told her “mistakes happen,” and “that he still believes she was the person to sit in that seat.”
Two weeks later, on May 13, they were informed of their suspensions and demotions. Dillard was reassigned to the information technology department, but her complaint says she was constructively discharged — meaning forced into a resignation. Billingsley was “forced to accept the insulting demotion under duress,” according to the complaint, and reassigned to a “senior coordinator” role. Both positions came with significant pay cuts, the complaints state.
Credit: Jason Getz/AJC
Credit: Jason Getz/AJC
The complaints allege the district never told either of them about the charges or gave them due process, in violation of both their contracts and the Fair Dismissal Act. In addition to suggesting Sauce wanted to remove competition for the permanent superintendent role, the complaints allege Chief Human Resources Officer Tasha Davis Mills “has a history, pattern and practice of illegally violating the contractual rights of employees at the District.”
A spokesperson for the DeKalb County School District said they could not comment on pending litigation.
Sauce is in the middle of a one-year contract. The school board has not announced plans to search for a permanent superintendent.
The lawsuits allege the district has caused each of them $2 million in economic harm. They’re seeking compensatory damages.
Billingsley was promoted to chief academic officer in January under Sauce’s tenure after working in the district since 2011.
Dillard was hired in 2023 for the chief of schools position by the previous superintendent, Devon Horton.
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