John W. Thompson wasn’t in attendance at Sunday evening’s candidate forum sponsored by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB-TV.
But the new Clayton County schools corrective superintendent was very much the topic of conversation before the approximately 150 people gathered at Clayton State University.
More specifically, it was his $285,000 salary and flexible contract that excludes him from having to answer to the school board as the county fights to save its accreditation.
“That would have to be reconsidered,” said District 5 candidate Phyllis Moore, “because that’s not the way we’re supposed to be operating.”
Moore was hardly alone. Other candidates also expressed problems with Thompson, who was hired in April to prevent Clayton from becoming the nation’s first school system in nearly 40 years to have its accreditation withdrawn.
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