Dr. Eugene Walker Monday announced his intention to resign as school board chairman as soon as a new vote can be scheduled, possibly later this week. The board is expected to meet again at 5:30 Wednesday to select a new chairman. On Thursday, the board goes for a crucial suspension hearing before the state Board of Education. Walker told CrossRoadsNews that he took the dramatic step because he “didn’t want to be the focal point of the hearing” and wanted to “give interim superintendent Michael Thurmond a new face to work with.” Thurmond will be the spokesman for the board at the hearing and answer questions from state officials.

Despite stepping down as chairman, Walker said he is committed to staying on as a board member.

“The people elected me to this post and I have an obligation to continue until my term is up in 2015,” he said. Walker said he had been thinking about stepping down as chairman since failing to get a five-vote majority last month in the board’s previous vote for chairman. Two members abstained and Walker won by default. Under board rules members are allowed to vote again within 30 days.

Critics have contended that Walker’s leadership was at least partially to blame for DeKalb’s problems with its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In a Dec. 17th report, SACS slammed the board for “dysfunctional governance, declining student performance and school finances that have deteriorated to a point that is dangerous.”

Thurmond praised Walker’s decision.

“For him to voluntarily step down and not seek re-election, I think is a significant statement,” Thurmond said.