The Georgia NAACP, black state lawmakers and other activists have met with Gov. Nathan Deal to discuss the suspension of six DeKalb County school board members.

The governor suspended members of the majority black board over accusations of financial mismanagement and other allegations, and the coalition Monday asked that he consider finding black replacement board members.

Deal's spokesman Brian Robinson says the governor asked the group to get involved in finding black candidates who are qualified to fill the positions.

A panel searching for candidates to replace the school board members is working to narrow a list of more than 400 applicants to a dozen finalists. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (http://bit.ly/ZEBMsZ) the panel hopes to narrow the field down this week and present their list to the governor.

Tags: politics, Nathan Deal, black leaders, DeKalb County schools, Georgia State Conference NAACP, school board removal, DeKalb County school board