Clayton County schools has expanded its accreditation team, hiring a deputy superintendent and an attorney.

The school board unanimously voted Tuesday night to hire Judith Simmons as the district's second in command and Julie Lewis as general counsel.

Clayton County schools headlines: • Photos: Timeline of Clayton schools' woes Union members protest Clayton school pick  Retired Marine says he's a contender for Clayton schools chief  Clayton poised to hire retired Marine as superintendent  Clayton schools regain accreditation  Clayton schools to get $25M in federal aid  • AJC editorial: Less hope Read the full report to SACS: • Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Large PDFs) Read SACS' report (PDF) Clayton County news Recent headlines: Bond denied man charged in killing at apartment  MARTA board member gets probation for sex charge  Clayton property owners face higher taxes     • Clayton County news

There was no discussion surrounding the new hires, who were both recommended by new superintendent John Thompson. Simmons previously worked with Thompson in Pittsburgh.

There will be little transition time for either because Thompson has set a July 15 deadline for responding to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. SACS gave the district nine mandates to meet by Sept. 1 or lose accreditation.

"We are moving forward at a fast pace," Thompson told the board Tuesday. "It is my intention we will go for the best we can get out of this whole situation. If not full accreditation, it will be a short probation."

Lewis replaces general counsel Dorsey Hopson, who is leaving at the end of the week to take a job with Memphis City schools.

Hopson is the second lawyer to resign during Clayton's accreditation struggle. The district's SACS attorney Glenn Brock resigned last month, citing unethical behavior by the board.

Lewis resigned Wednesday from her job as an attorney for the state department of human resources. In February, she left the state department of education, where she worked for about three years as the deputy general counsel, department spokesman Dana Tofig said. Lewis, a graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law, previously worked as a special education attorney for The Weatherly Law Firm's Atlanta office.

"I really, really care about kids and want to get in here and make a difference," Lewis said. "It's not just for SACS, but for the long-term."

In addition to meeting SACS' requirements, Lewis said she will work to ensure the board follows the state's open meetings law.

Earlier this month, the board admitted to the state's attorney general's office that it violated the open meetings law and vowed to amend its procedures.

Lewis said she has a three-year contract with an annual salary of $175,000, the same as what Hopson made.

Simmons' appointment Tuesday was expected. She arrived with Thompson on his first day on the job April 28 and was immediately given a three-month consulting contract for $15,000. Two weeks later, Thompson hired Simmons as interim deputy superintendent for $167,000. Thompson said Simmons applied for the full-time position and was deemed the most qualified.

Simmons worked under Thompson in the Pittsburgh school system.

Simmons joined the Pittsburgh school system as a teacher in 1971 and worked her way up to an executive director, where she supervised 28 schools under Thompson. In 2005, the Pittsburgh school board declined to renew Thompson's superintendent contract. Around the same time, the board demoted Simmons to principal.

She opted to take an early retirement, according to Pittsburgh schools spokeswoman Ebony Pugh.

Simmons will oversee the Clayton reorganization, which requires all administrators to reapply for their jobs.

Thompson's 14-month contract allows him to add a senior administrator — the deputy superintendent. On Tuesday, Thompson said he also wanted to hire a chief financial officer, chief human resources officer and chief technology officer.