Jackson Free Press

After months of controversy stemming from a sexual harassment charge by a male educator, JPS Superintendent Earl Watkins announced tonight that he is resigning, effective June 2009.

Previous Comments

ID

99883

Comment

I can understand him resigning, but why wait over a whole year to do it?

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-04-07T19:22:41-06:00

ID

99884

Comment

Maybe he wants to give JPS time to find a replacement.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-04-07T20:23:28-06:00

ID

99885

Comment

That will give the state's largest school district ample time to launch a search and find a new superintendent.

Author

lanier77

Date

2008-04-08T07:46:23-06:00

ID

99886

Comment

isn't he just letting his current contract expire? that really wouldn't be a resignation. i could be wrong, but that's what it seems like he's saying.

Author

eyerah

Date

2008-04-08T09:52:28-06:00

ID

99887

Comment

From the $150 million bond issue to the lawsuit. I think it's time to find someone who's got the well-being of those kids in mind, rather than funny stuff.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2008-04-08T10:17:07-06:00

ID

99888

Comment

isn't he just letting his current contract expire? that really wouldn't be a resignation. i could be wrong, but that's what it seems like he's saying. I think of a resignation in more of a short-term time frame.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-04-08T13:10:40-06:00

ID

99889

Comment

Umm... Just to set the record straight on a couple of things. First, while the whole sexual harassment suit and outcome had an impact on this decision, it is far more the result of the current majority and soon to be unanimity of the School Board. Melton has a 3-2 majority, has been deliberately lying about truancy and dropout rates in the district, and gunning for Jonathon Larkin and H. Ann Jones since his term as mayor began. Now he is about to get rid of both of them unless the city council finds 4 spines somewhere among their members. Can you imagine 4 Melton appointments and a president with his nose firmly in der Fuhrer's backside?

Author

Rex

Date

2008-04-08T15:06:29-06:00

ID

99890

Comment

Next, Watkins is not resigning. His contract runs through the end of this fiscal year (June 2009). He has elected to not seek and extension of the contract. Therefore, it is not technically a resignation although the end result is the same: the JPS School Board will begin a search and eventual vote on offering a contract to someone. Of course, as I noted before, that will be a Board different from the current one. It will be a Board comprised solely of Melton appointees and sycophants. You thought the bond awards and contracts were shady? Wait until there is no opposition to the shenanigans.

Author

Rex

Date

2008-04-08T15:11:05-06:00

ID

99891

Comment

And just as a reminder for the record, regardless of Melton's libelous statements, innuendo and rumor from the media, and repetitions in forums, JPS test scores, truancy rates, dropout rates, fiscal affairs, and teacher professionalism are all better now than when Watkins took over in 2002.

Author

Rex

Date

2008-04-08T15:16:27-06:00

ID

99892

Comment

look just let the mayor do his job...okay he has lowered crime...it looks like mayberry out here...now he is going to revamp jps...you know he is the adopter of pointdexter...theyre good...then he will lead the system of education...for the state then the world...frank is a saint and i sleep better at night because of what he does for this city...i just thought about him out there in his city jacket with his name embroidered on his chest...it brings tears to my eyes...im so proud to be a jacksonian...i think watkins should resign immediately and let frank be the superintendent and the mayor...then he could do more to help jackson...thank you frank...4 more years

Author

skipp

Date

2008-04-08T15:21:35-06:00

ID

99893

Comment

I actually agree with the truancy problem. It's much worse than it looks on paper.

Author

emilyb

Date

2008-04-08T16:36:33-06:00

ID

99894

Comment

You can't convince me JPS is ever going to improve. I just can't see it happening.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2008-04-09T10:02:30-06:00