New schools chief should be unifier, official says

Clayton County should look for a new superintendent who can raise student achievement and unite the community, not someone focused solely on regaining accreditation, says the top official of the region’s leading accreditation group.

“They need someone who has experience in helping unify a community, helping a community establish and pursue a vision in excellence, and has the track record to ensure the proper conditions for student achievement,” said Mark A. Elgart, president and chief executive officer of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. “If they are able to do that, it will help them with accreditation.”

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

SACS revoked Clayton’s accreditation effective Sept. 1, making the 50,000-student district the first in the nation to lose accreditation in nearly 40 years. One of the mandates to regain accreditation is to hire a permanent superintendent.

On Monday, the county school board voted unanimously to launch a national search.

Superintendent John Thompson’s contract expires June 30. The board has said he can apply for the permanent position.

The board called off a superintendent search and hired Thompson in April as a temporary leader after candidates expressed reluctance to join the troubled district.

Since then, Clayton has lost its accreditation, 3,300 students, four board members to a state ethics probe and dozens of businesses. The district also is slated to lose $23 million in state funds because of the decrease in student numbers.

“One of the indicators of a healthy school system is stability in leadership in its board and superintendent,” Elgart said. “For Clayton, their long-term goal should be to establish a stable foundation for leadership.”

School board vice chairwoman Ophelia Burroughs, a retired Jonesboro High School teacher, said she wants a superintendent who will regain accreditation. She also wants someone who can provide a good curriculum and work cooperatively with the board and the community.

School board chairwoman Alieka Anderson declined to talk about desired qualities, but said she “just wants good people.”

Former Clayton teacher Diana Nicholson said she wants the best leader for her two sons and all Clayton County students.

“I’m glad we’re doing the national search because I want to make sure we have the best person out there, whether that is Thompson or not,” said Nicholson, who unsuccessfully ran for school board in November.

But former school board candidates Maggie Martinez and Marcela Bodkin said they think the district can find new leadership within Georgia, possibly even Clayton County.

“We need people who know the system, the citizens and the leaders,” said Martinez, a Lovejoy resident and Cobb County teacher. “Why should we spend so much time and money when we have the talent in front of us?”

A Clayton resident who has invested in the district would be less likely to waste taxpayers’ money, said Bodkin, a U.S. Army analyst.

“I don’t have young children in the schools, but I pay big money in school taxes,” said Bodkin, a Jonesboro resident for 13 years. “I want to make sure we get our money’s worth.”

The selection may come down to money. Thompson has a salary and benefits package worth $400,000, including a $285,000 salary, $2,000 monthly housing stipend and 107 paid days off.

The board is scheduled to meet Saturday to select a search firm and draft a job description.