Tulsa School Board names acting superintendent

Friday, March 17th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- The Tulsa School Board voted to appoint Assistant Superintendent La Verne Ford Wimberly as acting superintendent following the resignation of John Thompson.

The board also decided Thursday night to pay Thompson $72,000 to buy out his contract. Thompson resigned earlier in the day to become superintendent of Pittsburgh schools.

Wimberly, a 33-year veteran of the district, will take over Thompson's responsibilities today. Thompson will receive $38,796 for the remaining time on his contract, which expired June 30. He also was reimbursed for 31 vacation days that were not taken and given $10,000 that was promised for meeting board incentives.

Thompson also received almost $7,500 for giving back a Jeep Grand Cherokee that he was allowed to use as superintendent, according to the agreement with the board.

Thompson worked in Oklahoma's largest district in Tulsa with 42,000 pupils for nearly six years. The Pittsburgh district has 39,900 pupils.