Ex-School Board Member Tries to Qualify With Photocopied Check

DECATUR, GA -- Sarah Copelin-Wood, one of several DeKalb school board members who were suspended by Gov. Nathan Deal back in 2013, was going to run for her old job.

But then she ran into a small technicality.

Copelin-Wood came to DeKalb's elections office on March 11, the final day of qualifying, but didn't have a certified check or money order for $540, only a copy of the check itself.

As in, a photocopy. Of a check. For $540.

Copelin-Wood failed to produce any other form of payment by noon, when qualifying ended, so she won't be on DeKalb's school board ballot this year.

"Very occasionally, politics is self-regulating," said Pine Lake City Councilman George Chidi on his Facebook page, where Patch learned of the incident.

Copelin-Wood represented District 3 on the school board, a position now held by Michael Erwin.

Deal replaced Copelin-Wood and four other school board members when the system was about to lose accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.