Outraged Clayton parents, students tell it to school board

In the aftermath of Thursday’s news that Clayton County schools will lose their accreditation, a scheduled school board meeting turned into an opportunity for some 200 parents and students to voice their frustration and anger.

Superintendent John Thompson took questions for about an hour Thursday night. He asked the crowd to be patient and work together to restore accreditation.

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Clayton County news

Few had any patience left.

William Brooks, a father of two students, said he was confused by the district’s inability to meet nine mandates required by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

“We had nine mandates to meet. How can we meet only one? We had five and a half months,” he said.

At times the crowd shouted, demanding to be heard.

“You don’t have to yell at me,” Thompson told one parent.

At 8 p.m., he told the crowd one more question.

“I’m tired,” he said.

“I know you’re angry,” Thompson told the crowd as they stood up and walked out. “If we work together, we can make a difference.”

The meeting was scheduled as a board meeting, but had to be canceled after four board members were removed from their posts by the Governor earlier in the day. Without a quorum to act on school business, the three remaining board members could only listen to remarks from an outraged community.

About two dozen parents, students and teachers spoke and raised new concerns.

“I’m angry. I’m upset,” said Sabrina Whitney, a mother of two Tara Elementary students.

Like Whitney, the parents wanted to know the school system’s plans for dealing with the loss of accreditation.

She didn’t get an answer when she asked three school board members to review and revise Thompson’s contract, which was criticized by accreditors. The board hired Thompson in April. His contract, which is estimated to be worth about $400,000 a year including perks, allows Thompson to violate policies and supersede the board.

Heather Engel, a senior at Mount Zion High School, told the superintendent she can not qualify for two scholarships because of accreditation.

Engel said her top three college choices are out-of-state. But without scholarships, the 17-year-old said she will be forced to stay in Georgia.

“This isn’t what I wanted, but it’s what I’ll have to do,” she said.