School Board Declines to Renew Thompson's Contract

Thompson's office told the News on Six this morning that he is conferring with his attorneys and has no response yet. A Tulsa school board committee decided not renew

Wednesday, February 9th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Thompson's office told the News on Six this morning that he is conferring with his attorneys and has no response yet.

A Tulsa school board committee decided not renew to superintendent John Thompson's contract Wednesday night. The committee made its announcement after meeting with Thompson.

The News on Six was told negotiations deteriorated between the two parties and Thompson then asked for a buy-out of his contract. When it was over, the school board members that controlled Thompson's fate, decided he would not be returning as superintendent next Fall.

After six years with Tulsa Public Schools, Thompson's future with the district had been uncertain in recent months. He was recruited for other school jobs around the country. Just last month, one vote by a Detroit school board member cost him the top job at Detroit Public Schools.

Tulsa School Board president Ruth Ann Fate said in recent interviews that the district was ready to submit two contract proposals to the superintendent.
But after a meeting with Thompson Wednesday night, Fate released a statement saying a school board committee had elected not to renew his contract, because of the inability to resolve differences on both sides.

School board member Doug Dodd wasn't expecting the announcement, and says he doesn't know what caused the break down in negotiations. "I have said publicly before that I was not personally in favor of a multi-year contract and a salary increase," Dodd said. "That's been out there for a while, but I was not expecting this particular thing to happen."

Tulsa City Councilor Joe Williams said he was shocked by the decision.
"I think Dr. Thompson has done an excellent job at Tulsa Public Schools," he said. "He's had the chance to pass two public bond issues which we haven't done in quite some time. I think the school system is headed in the right direction."

Thompson appeared at an Adopt-A-School program at Carver Middle School Wednesday afternoon, telling students he planned to work harder to improve their school and others. He declined comment, but his spokesman said the superintendent will release a statement Thursday.

Fate declined Wednesday night to say exactly what the impasse was. She did say, however, that events of the last 45 days resulted in what she called "unresolveable issues. "

Thompson's contract, which paid him $131,500 a year, was set to expire June 30th. The Tulsa chapter of the N-A-A-C-P accused the school board last month of playing games with Thompson's contract, forcing him to look for work elsewhere. Chapter president Ruford Henderson said Wednesday night that the board committee's decision proves their claim.

Fate says the next step will be appointment of an interim superintendent, then a search committee.