Tempers Flared at Monday Night's Tulsa's School Board Meeting

Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. John Thompson is leaving for a new job, but the controversy over his departure isn't going away. A Tulsa school board meeting erupted in anger Monday night

Tuesday, February 29th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. John Thompson is leaving for a new job, but the controversy over his departure isn't going away. A Tulsa school board meeting erupted in anger Monday night as citizens criticized the board's handling of Thompson's contract.

School board president Ruth Ann Fate had just named a search planning committee when board member Michael Pierce asked to speak. He began by challenging the contract committee's recommendation not to re-hire Thompson. "We the board did not discuss the issue to buy out or not buy outâ€¦" Piece said before he was interrupted by Fate. "Mr Pierce, that's really inappropriate," she said.

Fate restated that the agenda involved input on criteria for a new superintendent. "I would like for us to put the past behind us and move forward," she explained. "We wish Dr. Thompson well, but I think we're ready to not drag up some past history." Pierce said Fate should have involved the full board more in discussions about Thompson's contract, and called to adjourn the meeting.

Fate said she had kept the board informed of contract negotiations with Thompson, and asked to move the meeting on to comments from the public. She told them to stick with the subject of criteria for a new superintendent, but almost all the speakers ignored the instructions. The first speaker was an unidentified woman. "Then I'm just going to move on to the thing you didn't want me to talk about, which is the money you all spent last time searching for someone," the woman told the board.

The woman also questioned the appointment of Williams executive Michael Johnson to the search committee. Some board members responded it was because of his personnel expertise and said Johnson wouldn't be voting on any candidates.

The speakers who followed had other questions. Byron Watson was the first of several speakers calling for assistant superintendent Laverne Wimberly to be named to the interim post. "The search for a superintendent -- my question is why search for a qualified superintendent when we have one in the person of Dr. Wimberly?, Watson asked.

Community leader and parent Jayne Reed was among many who praised Thompson's record with the district, and criticized the board's relationship with him. "It is blatantly obvious to all who are not dependent on the media for the facts that this process is flawed, scripted and fueled by personal agendas," Reed said before being told her time at the podium was up.

Tulsa City Councilor Joe Williams spoke next. "Let me start off by saying I'm very angry about what this board has done," Williams said as the crowd responded with shouts and applause.

Tulsa Public Schools attorney David Fist raised concerns about violating the meeting agenda before Williams was finished at the microphone. He told the board they'd kicked the black community aside, and the issue is now larger than John Thompson. "Long after Dr. Thompson is gone, you can rest assured that what's happened here - the implications is going to be very long lasting," William told the board. "Respect or no respect for me. I don't care."

Former N-A-A-C-P president Jack Henderson shared Williams's opinion that the issue is dividing the city along color lines. "And it's shameless!", he said. "This board needs to resign! Everyone of you guys needs to leave!"

Thompson spoke briefly at the close of the meeting. He asked the city to put aside what he called petty differences and think of the children of the district. He then offered to serve the remainder of his contract.

Afterwards, some board members said the high emotions were expected, and appropriate.
"There are even larger numbers of people out there who maybe feel differently, but don't feel it with the same passion we heard Monday night, said board member Doug Dodd. "But I think it's important for people to have an opportunity to speak their minds."

However, Dodd said some are making charges that aren't a part of the issue.
"The one word used more than any other Monday night was racism," he noted. "And I don't believe for a moment that any decision to offer or not offer Dr. Thompson or any other person a contract is based on race. But if that perception's out there, we have to be very careful."

Pierce said he'll continue working for his district and encourage better communication among the board. "That's the key issue to us," he said. "That we all need to know the same information, so we can have discussion."

Pierce is optimistic the city can move beyond the controversy, depending on who succeeds Thompson. "If we pick the wrong person who doesn't solidify us, then we've got problems," he said. "I feel that this board will make every effort, with community input, to make the right decision."