More than a year after Michael Hinojosa became Cobb County schools' top administrator his old job in Dallas has been filled. And one of the top contenders for the Texas job was a metro Atlanta school chief.
On Sunday, Mike Miles, the former superintendent of the Harrison School District in Colorado Springs, officially became the new head of the Dallas Independent School District. Miles beat out four other finalists, including Clayton County Schools superintendent Edmond Heatley.
Heatley, who came to Clayton in 2009, has been credited with helping the 50,000-student system regain full accreditation after years of struggle. His initial contract, which expired Saturday, paid him a $250,000 base salary. His contract now runs through June 30, 2014. alls to Heatley, who rarely gives news interviews, were not returned Tuesday.
Despite, Clayton County's accreditation rebound, Heatley's tenure in the district has been marked by distractions and tough decisions. During recent budget talks, the idea of eliminating sports and fine arts programs in middle schools was floated, and several unfilled jobs were eliminated.
"A lot of people have issues for the superintendent, but that is par for the course," said Rex resident and school board watcher Larry O'Keeffe. "I am not as happy as I was, because the school system has become less open and transparent."
In February, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the school system spent upwards of $40,000 to investigate rumor of an inappropriate relationship involving Heatley and a school district employee. The investigation was launched by the school board without public discussion or a public vote and coincided with district-wide budget cuts, which included layoffs, delays in key purchases and a shorter academic calendar.
Heatley repeatedly denied the accusation and the costly investigation uncovered no evidence of wrongdoing.
According to the Dallas Morning News about a month after the Clayton investigation concluded, Heatley interviewed for the Dallas position on March 24, but did not receive an invitation for a second interview.
O'Keeffe said he had not heard that Heatley was job searching, but is not surprised.
"He was recruited at a critical time when the system was in crisis," O'Keeffe said. "But there is a lot of behind the scences friction between he and the board. So it doesn't surprise me."
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