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The investigation to which Raines referred is one the school board commissioned in August 2024. The board, which had some different members at the time, hired local attorney David N. Lockhart to look into some of Raines’ actions or lack of actions in relation to certain incidents since he became superintendent in 2012.

Lockhart reported there were several incidents that were deeply concerning to him, so much so that he provided the board with a summary of the full report early — in October 2024.

The board held a meeting that month and spent more than two hours in executive session discussing the report. A move by one board member to provide the summary report to two attorneys requesting it and to the Walker County Messenger failed in a 2-2 vote (one board member was absent).

The board now has the full report, as well as a rebuttal investigation by lawyer Julie Oinonen, representing Raines.

The investigation and response

The investigation commissioned by the school board and a response by Raines’ lawyer was included in 321 pages of documents provided in a file sent to the Walker County Messenger in response to an open records request.

Here are some key items from the Lockhart investigation as well as responses from Raines’ lawyer:

In 2015, a teacher had been accused of molesting a kindergarten student. The teacher was removed from the classroom and placed at the Advancing Education Center, a location that serves a number of purposes, including hosting various student events. A sheriffÐÔÊӽ紫ý investigation ended with inadequate physical evidence of the alleged crime.

The teacher already had another allegation against him that had been noted in his file, but that was before Raines became superintendent. No action had been taken against the teacher regarding the earlier allegation and he was switched from his gifted class to the kindergarten position where the second incident was reported.

Lockhart noted in his report that Georgia law requires even accusations of child abuse by school personnel be reported to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission by the school system and said that did not happen.

The PSC serves, among other things, to hold educators to high professional and ethical standards. Part of the code reads:

“An educator shall file with the GaPSC reports of a breach of one or more of the standards in the Code of Ethics for Educators, child abuse (O.C.G.A. §19-7- 5), or any other required report. Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to: (2) Failure to make a required report of an alleged or proven violation of one or more standards of the Code of Ethics for Educators of which they have personal knowledge as soon as possible but no later than ninety (90) days from the date the educator became aware of an alleged breach unless the law or local procedures require reporting sooner…� Professional Standards Commission, The Code of Ethics for Educators, 505-6-.01, Standard 8, including item 2

Also noted in the report was that the student told a child advocate she had not reported a subsequent instance of abuse outside the school system because nothing had come of her reporting the incident with the teacher.

In 2016, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested the teacher on child pornography charges (he was sentenced to 10 years in prison). The school board accepted the teacherÐÔÊӽ紫ý resignation.

Two years later, in 2018, the school system filed a report with the PSC about the arrest but not about the molestation accusation.

Raines’ lawyer said because there was no prosecution of the case, there was no requirement for the school system to report the situation to the PSC.

In 2022, a coach at a Walker County high school was accused of touching a female student inappropriately. He had been accused of the same by several girls in a previous year, before Raines was superintendent. The earlier incidents were noted in the teacherÐÔÊӽ紫ý file but no action was taken. After the 2022 incident, the teacher was transferred to the AEC facility.

The case against the teacher is still open. The teacher resigned shortly after the school year was over. The school system reported the incident 71 days after the first action had been taken, which was within the 90-day deadline for reporting.

Again, Raines’ lawyer said that because no prosecution took place, it was not necessary to report the accusations to the PSC, though the school district did make the choice to report the second incident.

In 2022 and 2023, some schools in the Walker County system had their water taps tested for contaminants under a program called Clean Water for Georgia Kids. After testing on 140 taps, 84% were found to have lead in the water. Three of the taps had high enough levels to legally require action according to the Environmental Protection Agency, though the Centers for Disease Control says that no level of lead has been found to be safe for children.

Records show test results started coming in in early 2023. The school system ordered a filter in January 2023 for an ice maker that tested high in lead.

Raines’ lawyer said Raines did not find out about lead contamination in the water until a local writer sought results in an open records request in June.

It was at that point, according to Raines’ lawyer, that an email about test results was found in a maintenance supervisorÐÔÊӽ紫ý inbox, unopened. The email had been sent in April and was forwarded to Raines on June 15 when it was discovered, over five months after a filter had been purchased for one contaminated water source in a school.

Raines’ lawyer said Raines emailed the board as soon as he got the email and reported on it officially at the next board meeting, June 19.

Another issue addressed by the Lockhart report had to do with two school board members who had sons working at high levels in the school system.

A Georgia law says people working in system administrative positions cannot have close relatives serving on the school board. Two individuals listed as coordinators under a heading of system administrative staff had parents on the school board.

Raines’ part in this was a sworn affidavit claiming the employees were not system administrative staff and that the listing of their positions under that heading was the result of a misunderstanding by an employee.

The issue went to court in 2023 and 2024 under a lawsuit by a citizen. It was permitted to proceed by a judge, dismissed later by the same judge, then appealed to the Georgia Appeals Court, where a judge ruled in favor of the school board members.

The Lockhart report says Raines was guilty of “false swearing� and noted that shortly after the last ruling that preserved the school board members’ positions, both members, along with one other, voted to extend Raines’ contract to the maximum allowed by law.

The report also noted that some time after the last court ruling, when the board was getting ready to work on salaries, a board member requested from Raines’ office a list of staff members, Raines’ secretary emailed a document to all school board members that showed the employees in question listed under system administrators.

Is it over?

Raines said he had “self-reported� to the PSC and had been cleared of any wrong-doing by the commission: “On January 10, 2025, the PSC issued a formal letter stating there was no probable cause to take any disciplinary action against my certificate and recommended that the case be closed and the record expunged.�

At the June 16, 2025, board meeting, Raines told the board: “I must publicly express my deep disappointment with certain current and former members of the Board of Education.�

He called the investigation commissioned by the board a vicious attack against his character, his integrity and his reputation that has negatively affected his family, his future career opportunities and his personal well-being.

Raines defended and praised himself and those who have supported him and who have implemented his vision for the school system: “I have tirelessly devoted myself to the success of every student in our district. The results speak for themselves. Dedicated and talented employees have carried out the vision and direction I provided, and our students, families and community are the true beneficiaries.�

There was no discussion about the impact of lead-tainted water on students’ health or how to protect children from predators that make their way into the school system.

Raines asked board members to end the matter: “I trust the Board will accept this and officially close this matter.�

The board took no action on the issue at its June 16 meeting.

Raines’ statement

Here is Damon Raines’ full statement to the Walker County school board on June 16:

“This statement is in response to a series of recent open records requests, which include the investigation initiated by the Walker County Board of Education on August 29, 2024, my response as Superintendent to the investigation, and the official results of that investigation by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC). I must publicly express my deep disappointment with certain current and former members of the Board of Education, whose actions have caused unnecessary confusion and distress to our Walker County stakeholders, students, and employees. These vicious attacks against my character, my integrity, and my reputation have negatively affected my family, my future career opportunities, and my personal well-being.

“Their politically motivated decision to explore my termination for cause was loosely based on an outside investigation that referenced the handling of two incidents, one in 2015 and the other in 2022, without presenting all relevant facts and without seeking or receiving any input from me as the Superintendent.

“The Board initiated this investigation in the fall, and it remains open today even after receipt of the official final ruling. In the fall, I chose to self-report to the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) based on the original email complaints received by the Board and also the BoardÐÔÊӽ紫ý investigative report. On January 10, 2025, the PSC issued a formal letter stating there was no probable cause to take any disciplinary action against my certificate and recommended that the case be closed and the record expunged.

“I have tirelessly devoted myself to the success of every student in our district. The results speak for themselves. Dedicated and talented employees have carried out the vision and direction I provided, and our students, families, and community are the true beneficiaries.

“To everyone who has supported me through this attack and over the past thirteen years, thank you. I am both honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve. Despite the challenges, we continue to make real, lasting change together. The foundation we’ve laid is strong and will lead us toward even greater successes in the future. �Amazing Things through the Power of Team�

“As I have said before to this Board, and will reiterate now: you may attempt to control my employment but you do not control my destiny. I continue to serve as Superintendent with faith, conviction, and determination. My light shines not by title alone but through the calling I follow from my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.�

“God bless you, and thank you for your continued support. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our students and this community with integrity and purpose.

“I trust the Board will accept this and officially close this matter.�