By Sandra Parrish
WSB State Capitol Reporter

(WSB Radio State Capitol Bureau) -- A DeKalb County state lawmaker wants to reduce the size of the county's school board in light of problems that could affect the school systems accreditation.

Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) is sponsoring HB 22 that would allow DeKalb voters to choose between five, seven, and nine board members.  Currently the Dekalb school board has nine members.

"We need to examine closely whether or not a smaller school board will help in the governance issues for the Dekalb school board," she tells WSB's Sandra Parrish.

Oliver sites research done by School Superintendent Bray Bryant that seven is the optimal number of school board members.

"The research shows that they are able to form a more collaborative , more cooperative relationship with fewer numbers of board members," she says.

Voters would decide the matter in the November election.

The bill would have to be approved first by the members of the DeKalb County legislative delegation before being approved by the entire Legislature.