In With the Old Superintendent? Clayton Residents React

By Odette Yousef

Atlanta, GA – Today Clayton County parents awoke to headlines that their old superintendent may come back to head the troubled system. Barbara Pulliam resigned suddenly last summer and residents are sorting out how they feel about potentially bringing her back.

WABE's Odette Yousef reports.

Clayton County's school district will lose accreditation September first if it doesn't meet nine mandates by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Pulliam helped get the system through its last accreditation crisis, when it was on probation in 2003. But that's not the first thing that went through Clayton resident Jessie Goree's mind when she heard about Pulliam's rumored return:

GOREE: I got a headache when I heard it I hope that it's not true because I don't think we need to move backwards, I think we need to move forward. A lot of the situations that we had within the school district are things that she implemented, so I would just see more of a problem.

Goree, mother of a Clayton public school junior, refers to a deal where Pulliam recommended the system purchase some land for more than it was worth.

Another parent, Vernetta Reeves, has mixed feelings about Pulliam's possible return:

REEVES: It's like they have no other options, or any other candidates to look for.

Reeves isn't surprised that the school board is looking to the past. She says that other candidates for temporary superintendent have endured too much public criticism:

REEVES 5: With all the negative, it's like who's gonna come in to fill the seat?

Two finalists for the job have withdrawn from consideration the search firm that identified them says it'll be tough to interest other candidates.

Meanwhile, parents got some relief this week from the General Assembly. Both chambers passed a bill to qualify Clayton sophomores and juniors for HOPE scholarships, even if their system loses accreditation.

Anthony Williams, who has two children in tenth grade, hopes the governor will sign the bill. But he wants to know what Clayton faculty are going to do, also.

WILLIAMS: because right now we have some strong, awesome teachers in our schools, but a lot of them are considering leaving themselves.

A spokesperson from Governor Sonny Perdue's office says the governor will give the bill his full consideration.

Odette Yousef, WABE News.