Schools GCPS Board Delays Vote on Land-Deal Policy

The Gwinnett County Public Schools board Thursday in Suwanee delayed for a second time a vote on a revised land-acquisition policy. This also was delayed from the May meeting.

The system is considering a revised policy because of controversy created by a series of articles in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that said that some developers made large, quick profits on some land sales to the GCPS.

Board Chairman Robert McClure of Lilburn asked that the board delay a vote to allow the system's internal audit of land purchases to be completed. McClure said that Joe Whitley, who is conducting the third-party audit for the GCPS, "might come up with more information we need to include" in the policy.

The internal audit is expected to be completed "in the next few weeks," Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks said.

Wilbanks -- not an actual board member -- addressed the board and those in attendance about the circumstances surrounding the proposed policy. He said that the AJC articles were "incomplete, misleading and prejudicial."