Board postpones vote on superintendent’s status

The Clayton County schools superintendent on Monday asked the school board to punish board member Michael King for violating the ethics code by representing a teacher who sued the school district.

Moment earlier, King implored the board to fire Superintendent John Thompson.

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The board did not act on either request.

At issue is whether Thompson is the district’s permanent superintendent, which the district needs to get accreditation back.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools revoked the 50,000-student district’s accreditation effective Sept. 1, citing a dysfunctional board and a superintendent with too much power.

On Monday, Thompson submitted to the board an amended contract that removes his authority to violate board policy and changes his title from corrective to permanent superintendent. SACS has approved the contract, attorneys said.

Board chairwoman Alieka Anderson postponed taking any action on the contract, saying she wanted to give the public time to review it.

The board will vote Monday on the new contract, along with King’s request to terminate Thompson and continue searching for a new superintendent.

The board will also vote on whether King violated the district’s ethics policy for failure to disclose that he is representing a former Clayton teacher in a suit against the school district. King, an attorney, said he represents a former Mount Zion High School teacher who sued the school district, alleging illegal termination. King said the former teacher is seeking a new attorney and he has taken no action in the case since he took office in August.

If found guilty, King could be suspended or fined.