DEL.ICIO.USHe has 107 days for vacation, holidays or other consulting work
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/29/08
Clayton County's new superintendent can spend almost half of his 14-month contract not working and still get paid.
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 Jessica McGowan/AJC | ||
| John W. Thompson can spend almost half of his 14-month contract not working and still get paid. | ||
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John W. Thompson's contract grants him the option to spend 107 of his 240 workdays — 45 percent — on vacation, holiday or doing consulting work.
Thompson, who started work Monday, is tasked with meeting the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' Sept. 1 deadline to overhaul the district or lose accreditation.
But that deadline is going to be awfully tight given Thompson's contract, said James E. Bostic Jr., a state board of education member appointed by the governor to help Clayton schools.
"When you look at the number of days he has the ability to be off and number of days he has to work, it certainly makes it difficult," Bostic said Tuesday. "I'm really wondering why we are paying this salary for him to be off and earn other income consulting with other school systems."
Clayton is paying Thompson $285,000 a year — or $1,187.50 a day.
Bostic and fellow governor's liaison William "Brad" Bryant have said Thompson is not capable of saving Clayton's accreditation. The president of SACS has said the same thing.
Acting board chairwoman Michelle Strong referred comments Tuesday to Dorsey Hopson, board attorney. Hopson, who served as a go-between for Thompson's lawyer and the school board, declined to comment.
Thompson referred comments to his attorney, Richard Schwartz. Schwartz said Thompson gets 79 paid days off. "Nobody is going to have any trouble figuring out where John Thompson is. These are not unusual perks for an experienced superintendent."
Thompson's contract grants him the perks of all Clayton County administrators: 20 paid days like winter break, 15 holidays and 18 vacation days.
But unlike other Clayton school administrators and past superintendents, Thompson also has 30 additional paid vacation days and two paid days a month to do consulting work outside the district.
That special consulting time does not include the time Thompson can attend educational conferences across the nation. Under the contract, he doesn't have to use vacation time for that.
"I don't see how we're going to get things done with that many vacation days," said Denese Sampson, a Morrow mother with three children in Clayton schools. "He's supposed to be coming to work."
The $285,000 salary is lower than what Thompson requested, Hopson told the board. But when other benefits are added in, the contract is costing the district about $400,000.
Thompson gets $2,000 a month for housing and $28,500 in a tax-sheltered annuity.
On July 1, Thompson will get a raise. He will get the same percentage rate as the highest group of certified school employees. That means if teachers get a 4 percent raise and paraprofessionals get a 6 percent raise, Thompson will get the 6 percent raise.
That's in addition to use of a car and security, if needed.
Dick Greene, a consultant with Clayton's search firm, said Thompson will likely not use all of those days off.
"He will be there to do the job when the job needs to be done," Greene said. "He will not be hithering to do consulting when they need to save accreditation. The availability of days does not mean they will be used."
Thompson will be paid a lump check when he leaves for any unused time, which is another way to bump up his salary, said Sid Chapman, president of Clayton's largest teachers' union.
Chapman said he has been flooded with calls from teachers concerned about Thompson's salary, time off and "unrestricted" powers, which allow him to supersede board policies. The union has requested a meeting with Thompson, but not received a response.
"It seems like a great deal of money and time off, especially since he didn't seem to have a plan," said Chapman, who represents about 2,800 teachers.
Greene said the compensation package goes with the job. It's rare to find candidates with experience in large urban districts and dealing with problems similar to Clayton's, Greene said.
"The problems the district has frightens many candidates away," said Greene, who served as a superintendent for 15 years.
Herb Garrett, executive director of the Georgia School Superintendents Association, called the number of paid days off "unusually high."
"The salary is higher than many superintendents, but he's got a tough mountain to climb," Garrett said. "The job he has tackled is undoubtedly one of the toughest jobs anywhere. Knowing what he's facing, I don't quibble with the salary. I think it's probably worth every dime of it."
Corporations routinely pay high price tags for executives to rescue troubled companies, including lofty stock packages, cars and other options.
"It's not unusual in corporate America, but in academic institutions, it always tends to have a whiff of malfeasance," said Eric Dezenhall, chief executive officer of Dezenhall Resources, a Washington, D.C.-based firm that handles crisis communications for troubled companies.
Thompson will be overseeing a $566 million budget and about 8,000 employees.
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- CLAYTON COUNTY: Lovejoy group seeks governor's help, state takeover of school board (09/06/2008)
- Clayton's fears are realized (08/29/2008)
- Clayton schools' fears are realized (08/28/2008)
- CLAYTON SCHOOLS: Superintendent hopes to take schools to top (05/23/2008)
- Miracle coming up, says Clayton schools superintendent (05/22/2008)
- PUBLIC EDITOR: AJC will keep digging into Clayton schools story (05/03/2008)
- Clayton school board loses state advisers (05/01/2008)
- CLAYTON SCHOOLS: Top job comes with 107 days off (04/30/2008)
- Clayton schools leader chosen (04/24/2008)
- New Clayton chief needs 'combat pay,' schools expert says (04/08/2008)
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Comments
By jackumup
Sep 5, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
Why are blacks allowed positions of authority, when their average IQ is about 80?
By Pittsburgh Schools employee
Aug 29, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this
As someone who works for the Pittsburgh Public School district where Thompson worked I can tell you that I could never understand two words that came out of his mouth. He also got a money-grab contract for a friend of his, who did nothing.
Why is education being run by idiots who give away our money?!
By borodawg
May 14, 2008 7:37 AM | Link to this
Good lord, if SACS says Thompson can't save accreditation, now what? I researched newspaper articles at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette and gleaned the following:
"To be sure, the former superintendent, Dr. John Thompson, had the conventional credentials and a gift of communicating with children, but he ended up not being able to take the district to a higher level."
"..Thompson's ill-advised renovation of his office while the school district is in dire financial straits.."
"The Pittsburgh Public Schools are facing a "most dire" budget situation that includes a shortfall expected to reach $32 million by the end of 2006, ...according to new Superintendent Mark Roosevelt ...Without substantial new revenue, over the next two years we are looking at significant teacher and program reductions along with other actions that will inevitably affect what we can offer our students," his memo said.
"..firing the superintendent who proposed a 22 percent tax increase ...He was fired because any superintendent who would propose such a tax hike, only four years after raising taxes more than 20 percent...Thompson said last November, "I looked at it and prayed over it and almost definitely we will have to have some kind of [property] tax increase over the next three years.. he nonetheless seemed blind to how high school taxes already are. He told me a few years ago taxes weren't high and it's a privilege to pay them..."
"...But at the same time, he asked the district to buy a new Lincoln Towne Car for his use, his credit card was confiscated by the board, and his deputy was sued for misuse of school funds...and Thompson's response to teachers' dreadful test scores -- blaming computer problems and faulty tests.."
"...Buying out Thompson's contract is a huge waste Is the Pittsburgh school board nuts? Hasn't it learned anything from (a previous) controversial and costly buyout...? What do the board members think they are going to accomplish by buying out the last five months of Superintendent John Thompson's contract except waste more taxpayer money..."
So, to say that, "...Thompson is credited with turning Pittsburgh's schools large budget deficit into a surplus..." is not quite the truth.
By get serious
May 7, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
CC is a complete disaster area and should be declared such! Time for a complete overhaul of CC.
The school board, the commissioner and the sheriff's office are a disaster and costing the good citizens of the county everything! These people need to be removed forceably from office, encarerated in Walking Small's fine establishment.
Impose a curfew on all the street walkers, hoods, riff raff, gansta's and gangsta wannabes. It is time to take back the county from the punks, thugs and thieving liars that are running it into the ground.
Let's run all of these P's OS out of the county for good. Don't let them run us off. CC used to be a good, safe place to live with good schools.
The City of Atlanta screwed us all by flushing their crap southward. We need to send this bunch of crap back to them by the bus loads!!
By saveourchildrenteachthemwell
May 6, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
During this time of chaos we must save our children and teach them well. These children come first! Parents, teachers, and leaders need to be heard! The showing is low, teachers are not encouraged to voice their opinions, and many parents are just "too busy" to be bothered by this or their child's education. This is a sad time for all in CCPS. Morale is low and many are regretting signing their contracts.
By Aneshia Thomas
May 6, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this
Can the workers in Clayton County get paid. Can parapro bring at least 2000.00 a month, a bus driver, a lunch room worker, a custodian. This is mad. This man housing is two grand a month, can't he pay anything out of 285,000. But it didn't take long to come to that decision for the man in charge, but we have to look at number for the people that do all the work. No fair to the classified workers.
By Honorable Mention
May 5, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this
What a mess. It's a shame the state does not have some sort of catastrophic situation power to come in and take over? Are you hearing me lawmakers? Not only has the board proven they're absolute morons by they're previous actions (or lack thereof), but they've hired someone for $285,000/yr. to work half the time, and he's s-o-o-o intelligent he even says he'll 'sleep' knowing he's working 24/7. They should all get the all-time 'Darwin' award. Lithonia & Clayton should somehow merge and elect Cynthia McKinney as their mayor!
By j
May 5, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
I am a parent, grandparent, and residence of Clayton County. Not only is the school district in trouble, the communities are full of trash, there are more black boys and girls sitting in jail then sitting in classrooms. Clayton County has excellent schools and have provided quality education for my children. It is not the fault of the children if the school board cannot function. There is a critical need for a school board that can help save our schools. Victor Hill has made a joke out of our boys and girls on probation and in jail. Where are all of my tax dollars going. The county and judicial system was fair and in better shape when it was being lead by white officials. The county officials and judges no longer care about our boys and girls. Probation is out rageous, our kids records and futures are being destroyed daily. Black on Black crime is up and above all, the only thing that Black kids have to fight poverty with is "EDUCATION" and that is being attacked now. The kids are our future and if we don't step up to the plate and say enough is enough, Clayton County will loose more than its accreditation. Other counties are laughting and saying it is a lost cause. Property values are down. Hom invasions are up. We have left GOD out and made man "GOD"; take a good look at what is happening, we are face to face with the devil.
Sad and hurt Parent in Clayton County.
By GeezG
May 5, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
time to grow up - time to shut up
The schools board is filled with unethical liars, the sheriff is unhethical and insane, the commissioner is a skirt chasing useless POS...you do the math
oh yeah and the new guy can work half time...do you think he's going to do anything to fix the current board? NO - they can fire him...what's wrong with this picture?
By Time to grow up
May 2, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this
I sure did not know that so many of us was God and we judge. So many real Christians. People this is not about where everyone lives or who they voted for. A lot of you voted for Bush and we all see where that has gotten us. No matter what you say it is about the KIDS. The kids did not ask for any of this. There are so many smart kids in Clayton and are probably friends of your kids if they all hang out at malls, movie theaters, etc. Its not just a reflection of Clayton, its a reflection of Atlanta or the whole Georgia area. Why come to this site to show your racist ways. Racism is taught by adults. Children will come together if you dont show the ignorance. At the end of the day we all have red blood. Why judge the color of skin. We are all Gods children and probably related to one another black, white or whatever your race may be. Again please grow up. Dont feel because you are alone typing your racist comments you have fooled your kids. It does show. But please dont think that the other race does not see your ignorance. The worst type of racism is when you are in denial. Again, please lets all work together to put the kids first. All the kids want is an education. I am sure our schools would probably seem low if we had kids in our school that could not speak or understand the language. I am sure our schools would probably have a low test scores too. SO LET ANYONE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN JUDGE.
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