Parents and Students React to Thompson Decision

Thursday, February 10th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Most students left school Thursday without knowing that there is a major change underway in their school districtâ€™s administration. When the News on Six approached them and told them that Thompsonâ€™s contract was rejected, many were disappointed. "I think he's done a really good job,â€ said student Chelsea Cox. â€œHe needs to stay, because he was nice to us kids." Janna Holmes, another Tulsa student said, "I think he should stay because he's done a good job and he's really nice and friendly when he came to our schools."

The children seemed to be taken by Thompsonâ€™s charm. So were some of their parents. Jane Lawson is president of Tulsa's council of the Parents - Teachers Association. She says Thompson really worked with parents and she's worried the next superintendent won't. " What kind of relationship he or she may have had with the P-T-A, so you don't really know,â€ Lawson said. â€œYou hope that the next superintendent will be very open to parents concerns."

Another parent says she likes Thompson, but change could be what the Tulsa schools really needs. "He's been a breath of fresh air, but heâ€™s also looking for other jobs which I can understand,â€ said Maryland Lewis. â€œSo I can see both sides of it, but we need a drastic change in our education system."

Former teacher and president of Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association Beth Gooch said, "If the stumbling block was about money then she believes the committee made the right decision because she says he is well paid for the job he has to do."

It is not yet public what were the circumstances were leading up to the school board committeeâ€™s decision.