Decatur Schools will pay departing superintendent $401k

Share Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google DECATUR, Ga. (Decaturish) — According to the finalized contractual modification and resolution agreement to City Schools of Decatur Superintendent Gyimah Whitaker’s contract, approved by the board, the parties “mutually agreed” to part ways. Whitaker will receive $401,700 in compensation under the agreement. “Employee and the Board have mutually agreed that it is in the best interest of the Parties that Employee’s employment with the City Schools should end at the close of business on Dec. 31, 2026,” the resolution agreement said. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: City Schools of Decatur Superintendent Gyimah Whitaker leaving The finalized contract modification and resolution agreement also states that Whitaker will receive all of her agreed-upon future salary through 2028 under her 2025 contract, totaling $401,700. She will receive $301,275 on Jan. 1, 2027, and $100,425 on Jan. 1, 2028. An additional $17,853 will also be paid for a total of 15 unused vacation days. READ THE FULL CONTRACT BELOW >> Superintendent Whitaker unexpectedly announced her departure from the district on Nov. 10, after three years of service. Deputy superintendent Karen Newton-Scott will serve as interim superintendent for 18 months starting on Jan. 1, 2027. Whitaker’s last renewed contract ran from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028. The district stated that the agreement did not constitute termination of the employee and is a separation without cause. While the final contract states her departure was a mutual decision, an Oct. 8 resignation letter written by the district’s law firm, Wilson, Morton & Downs, said the board was “attempting to reach a termination agreement with the superintendent.” The letter said board member Lorraine Irier posted “arguably defamatory statements” about Whitaker on social media. Whitaker’s departure followed an investigation into her use of a podcast studio owned by her husband. The investigation found insufficient evidence of wrongdoing. She also led the district’s pursuit of a controversial Early Childhood Learning Center project. The district ultimately backed away from that project while exploring alternatives. This story was originally published on Decaturish , a news partner of Atlanta News First. Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.