Uh, About That Diploma ... It's In The Mail

Just when I think the fiasco that is the Clayton County school board can't get anymore ludicrous, they prove that stupidity and arrogance has no limits. This week has been graduation week in Georgia, and for Clayton County students, it will probably be the last graduating class for a while. The school system is losing it's accreditation, something I have wrote about on numerous occasions, mostly as a public service message for those planning on moving to the Atlanta area. Do not move to Clayton county if you have school age kids, well even if you don't for that matter.

So what have they done now? They hired a new superintendent over the objections of the very committee that is responsible for determining if Clayton County will get their accreditation back. This new superintendent ordered the destruction of all of this years graduates diplomas because his signature wasn't on them. They didn't tell anyone. The first indication of this came when the first high school held their graduation and the supposed diplomas were handed out. Imagine their surprise when they opened up their folders only to find a blank piece of paper. Parents started asking questions and that is when it was revealed that the diplomas had been shredded and that it will now cost the county $50,000 to have them reprinted.

The reason? Clayton County Superintendent John Thompson ordered more than 3,000 high school diplomas shredded Thursday after seeing his name wasn't on them. On Friday, Thompson learned it will cost up to $50,000 to reprint the diplomas.

Once again for those planning a move to the Atlanta area two areas to avoid is Dekalb County, which accounts for almost all of the crime in the metro Atlanta area and has more problems then Carter has liver pills and Clayton County which has the problems with it's school system.

It should come as no surprise either that these two counties are also hardest hit by the housing market. While they try to come up with all these other reasons the truth is having a high crime rate and unaccredited schools tends to hurt the housing market just a tad.

And yes, both of these counties are solidly Democrat. One of Dekalb's more famous residents or former residents is Cynthia McKinney.

Beating a Dead Horse, I Know: Clayton County School Board

I know I am beating a dead horse here, and I have written about many times but I just can't get over the arrogance of the school board in Clayton County. The schools are going to lose thier accreditation and The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)has given them until Sept 1 to get their act together. They simply refuse to do so. Only one member of the school board has stepped down despite the SACS making a condition that they all step down. Now to spit in the eye of the accreditation board again they have hired a new superintendent whom the SACS says is unacceptable.

A man previously deemed not qualified by Clayton County schools' accrediting agency has been named the school district's temporary superintendent.

The Clayton County school board voted 5-1 Wednesday night to hire John W. Thompson to help save the district's accreditation. Board Chairman Eddie White voted against the hire.

A little background on this guy.

Last month, Thompson withdrew his name from consideration; his attorney said at the time the board had refused to meet his demands. It was not clear if he had changed his mind Wednesday night.

And what were those demands? Why nothing any other county school superintendent wouldn't want.

Thompson initially asked Clayton for a $275,000 salary and up to $2 million for a consultant team, along with 24-hour security and 24-hour access to a car and driver, according to the district's search firm and someone who sat in on Thompson's interview.

So folks, seriously, if you are planning a move to the Atlanta area in the near future and you have school age children please avoid Clayton county. They are bent on self destruction and a lot of kids are going to wind up being hurt for their arrogance.