The second finalist to lead Clayton County Schools during the district's fight to salvage its accreditation withdrew his name Monday.

Santiago V. Wood said he conferred with his family and professional colleagues and is no longer interested in being Clayton's temporary superintendent.

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"There's an aggressive outside political agenda of interference that makes it impossible for any experienced superintendent to succeed," Wood said.

About three hours after his announcement, six members of the school board huddled behind closed doors.

They met for about two hours to talk about personnel, but did not answer questions afterward.

Board attorney Dorsey Hopson refused to say if the board discussed the superintendent position in the closed session or to confirm that both candidates have withdrawn.

"The board is still in the process of evaluating what's in the best interest of the district," Hopson said Monday night.

The decisions by Wood and finalist John W. Thompson came after the head of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools said both candidates were not qualified. SACS gave Clayton schools until Sept. 1 to meet nine mandates or lose accreditation.

Sherry Mallory, a mother of three, tried to question board members Monday about its progress on the SACS mandates, but they refused to speak with her.

"They walk out, adjourn the meeting and not let us discuss anything," said Mallory, president of the Clayton Parents Advisory Council. "If you are governing over my child, I need to know what you're doing behind closed doors."

Board chairwoman Ericka Davis and vice chairman Eddie White were not present.

Consultant Dick Greene, who is leading Clayton's search, said the school board has not requested any additional candidates.

Greene, who was not invited to Monday's meeting, said three finalists were submitted to the district, but the board only chose to interview two. The board has declined to identify the third candidate.

Wood cited Clayton County's "long-term systemic dysfunction" as a major reason in his decision to withdraw his name from consideration.

"It does not lend itself to effective governance and leadership stability," he said. "It's beyond belief."

Thompson withdrew his name last week after the district failed to meet some of his requests, according to Thompson's attorney.

"John is just trying to get out of this Clayton mess now," said Thompson's attorney, Richard Schwartz. "This thing has been horribly mishandled."

Greene, of the search firm, said Wood and Thompson are both qualified to lead the district and could have met SACS' recommendations.

"This process has been sabotaged by people affiliated with the district and the outside influence of SACS and the state. They made irresponsible and unethical comments and the process was damaged," Greene said. "Clayton County will not get better if they continue with processes like this."

The board decided to hire a temporary superintendent for about a year to help meet SACS' mandates before hiring a permanent superintendent. One of the mandates is to hire a permanent superintendent.