Union members protest Clayton school pick

Six members of a metro area teachers union — including a former school board member — protested Clayton County’s selection of a California superintendent to lead the troubled school system.

The Metro Association of Classroom Educators (MACE) shouted and held signs outside the Clayton school board offices Wednesday night as Edmond Heatley addressed parents.

Clayton County schools headlines:

• Photos: Timeline of Clayton schools' woes

[an error occurred while processing this directive] • AJC editorial: Less hope

• Read the full report to SACS:
  • Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Large PDFs)



• Read SACS' report (PDF)

Clayton County news

The Clayton school board selected Heatley, superintendent of the Chino Valley (Calif.) Unified School District, as the lone finalist to be the next school leader. He is slated to be hired in two weeks.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools criticized MACE, one of three unions that represent teachers in Clayton, when it revoked Clayton’s accreditation last year.

On Friday, SACS restored Clayton’s accreditation and placed the district on probation. That accreditation hinges on the school system making continued improvements, including hiring an experienced superintendent.

“I don’t like the fact that he’s from California,” said John Trotter, chairman of MACE. “They don’t know the people. Clayton County likes their home folks.”

Trotter said the district needs to hire interim superintendent Valya Lee. Lee, a Clayton native, was interviewed, but not selected as a finalist.

Former school board member Norreese Haynes, MACE’s executive director, also protested outside the board offices.

SACS cited “outside influence” by MACE and Haynes when it revoked Clayton’s accreditation. Haynes was removed from the board in March 2008 after investigators found he did not live in his district.

Last year, SACS and a state Board of Education member urged the board to look at experienced superintendents from Georgia.

“The person selected needs to have a successful track record as a superintendent, knowledge and experience in the state of Georgia, and an understanding of the Clayton County school system,” SACS’ president and chief executive officer Mark A. Elgart said in March 2008.

Lee’s only experience as a superintendent is her job as interim, to which she was appointed in March.