Marlow appeals ethics hearing decision – The Cherokee Ledger-News: Top Stories

As of Friday afternoon, District 1 School Board Member Kelly Marlow officially appealed the determination made in her Oct. 2 ethics hearing, but a failure to provide a formal transcript of the hearing could potentially delay the process.

During the hearing, Marlow was found in violation of board policy when she wrote a letter to SACS/AdvancEd, the district’s accrediting body, requesting they investigate Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo and her colleagues on the board in regard to governance procedures.

According to her appeal, Marlow and her attorney, J. Thomas Salata, are requesting the Georgia Board of Education overturn the findings, declare unconstitutional the school board policies governing the hearing and set a date for Marlow to present her argument before the state board of education.

However, though Marlow asked court reporter Wendy Key about obtaining a certified copy of the transcript and costs associated with the purchase Oct. 24, as of Friday, she had not confirmed with Key whether she would move forward with buying a copy, according to emails provided by the Cherokee County School District. Also on Oct. 24, Key had provided her with cost estimates ranging from about $750 to more than $1,300, depending on the amount of turnaround time requested to provide the document.

State board of education policy requires a formal transcript to accompany an appeal of a local board decision.

In an email dated Oct. 23, Marlow wrote to Petruzielo that she was preparing to file her appeal but had not received a “written notice of the decision” and of her right to appeal to the state board of education. She also requested Petruzielo provide her with a copy of Key’s transcript of the meeting and, if it exceeded $100, notify her of the cost. Jacoby responded Oct. 24 that all communication regarding the hearing needed to be between Marlow’s attorney and School Board Attorney Tom Roach.

via Marlow appeals ethics hearing decision – The Cherokee Ledger-News: Top Stories.