Ex-Pittsburgh schools chief Thompson loses Georgia job

Former Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent John Thompson has been fired from his job as superintendent of Clayton County Public Schools in Georgia, rekindling memories that still divide school board members here.

Thompson, 64, was fired Saturday by a unanimous vote of the school board in Clayton County, a district of 50,000 students south of Atlanta. He left Pittsburgh in 2005 with five months remaining on a five-year contract.

Without specifying the cause of his dismissal, the board released a statement saying its action would "allow for a more open and cooperative working relationship between the board, staff and accreditation officials."

Sid Chapman, president of the Clayton County Education Association, said the last straw was Thompson's layoffs of tenured teachers.

Thompson was fired after 11 months on the job, with three months remaining on his contract.

"Oh my God, it took them that long," said Pittsburgh board member Jean Fink, who had problems with Thompson's controlling style.

Board member Floyd "Skip" McCrea said: "I have always said he wasn't a good fit for Pittsburgh."

Board member Mark Brentley offered a different assessment of the man.

"I continue to wish him well and continue to support him as the perfect fit for Pittsburgh," he said. "I wish him and his wife well."

During Thompson's tenure here, the board became so divided that the Heinz Endowments and The Pittsburgh and Grable foundations cut off $3.1 million in grants to the district between 2002 and 2004.

Thompson made $285,000 a year in Georgia, but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported perks increased his package to $400,000 annually. The newspaper said his contract gave him 107 days off — 45 percent of the work year — for vacation, holidays and consulting work.