Jobs are the Priority: Former Labor Commissioner of Georgia Named Interim Superintendent of Schools

Michael Thurmond (Credit:  AJC photo)

Just in case you are keeping tabs:  We're still paying our previous Interim Superintendent, Ramona Howell Tyson, about $275,000 a year for a job that was created for her by her.  We're paying former Superintendent (as of midnight tonight) Dr. Cheryl Lynn Howell Atkinson, who has been MIA since committing various levels of crimes against the taxpayers before she left, though not formally charged, about $115,000 over the next six months.  And, now we've apparently agreed to pay former labor commissioner Michael Thurmond $275,000 for one year as the new Interim Superintendent.  Oh, yes, and did we mention ... he's a lawyer!  

Read more about him here.

Here is the official DeKalb statement:

“We are delighted Mr. Thurmond has agreed to serve as our interim superintendent,” said Board Chairman Eugene Walker. “Our school district is facing significant challenges, and we need a leader with a strong record of making fundamental changes in large, complex organizations. Throughout our state, you’ll find almost universal agreement that Michael Thurmond has consistently demonstrated those abilities.”

“The board is committed to working with Mr. Thurmond,” said Jim McMahan, vice-chair of the DeKalb board. “Under his leadership, we will work to ensure that every child in DeKalb has equal access to a quality education.”

“I welcome the opportunity to serve the 99,000 students of the DeKalb County Schools,” said Mr. Thurmond. “By all of us coming together across our county – parents, employees, citizens and businesses North and South – there’s no limit to what we will accomplish for our schoolchildren.”

Thurmond is credited with transforming two unwieldy state agencies, first as director of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and then as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor. At DFCS, Thurmond instituted a shift away from a culture of dependency for welfare recipients to a new focus on employment, job-training and personal responsibility. The Department of Labor underwent a similar change under his leadership, from a department that administered jobless benefits into a statewide resource for Georgians seeking career opportunities and training at newly created Career Centers throughout the state.

“We think that fundamental change is what our parents and stakeholders are demanding,” Dr. Walker said. “We are  confident that Michael Thurmond is the leader with the track record and the ability to improve education for all of our schoolchildren.”