Heatly to be hired as Clayton County superintendent
By Neil Nisperos
Staff Writer
Chino Valley Unified Superintendent Edmond Heatley on Tuesday night was set to be hired as the top administrator for the Clayton County Public Schools in Georgia.
Heatley has been on a job hunt in recent months out of California.
Last week, he learned the Clayton County school board had approved him as its new superintendent. The school board on May 18 voted 5-4 in favor of Heatley.
Heatley's first day at the Clayton County school district -- which is located in in Jonesboro and is 20 miles south of Atlanta -- is reportedly July 1.
He will reportedly earn a $250,000 annual salary for a three-year contract.
"To be honest, on the way home, I'm gonna call and talk to some people back in Georgia and spend time with my family and make a decision," Heatley said at the district office after a board meeting held last week. "Once that decision is made, I'm going to talk to my board president and staff and it's off from there."
Chino Valley Unified School District officials said on Tuesday Heatley has not yet notified them of a decision.
In an e-mail sent to Clayton County School board member Jessie Goree Monday night to congratulate Heatley, Goree said Heatley wrote, "Thank you very much. I am very eager and excited to come and begin work."
Heatley also told a reporter for the Clayton News Daily on Tuesday that he would accept the job if contract negotiations go well, that he didn't anticipate any problems with negotiations.
He also told a reporter his family would be in Georgia on Memorial Day weekend looking at schools and homes.
Dissenting boardmembers voted no against Heatley last week citing concerns that the community still needed more time to ask questions and provide feedback regarding Heatley's top status as a finalist. Other boardmembers reportedly wanted to hire Valya Lee, Clayton's interim superintendent.
Dr. Heatley is leaving at fortuitous time to enhance his career. A large budget deficit, school closures, teachers on the street,a new school to be opened and two schools having to attend throughout the summer to make up time. Based upon what I have read about Clayton County Schools, Heatley is in a can't lose position. No where to go except up, and at $250+K a year, not bad wages for a Georgia standard of living. Now we will see if the School Board can step up and take more of a leadership role instead of rubberstamping Heatley's personal agenda. The District needs a new Superintendant with strong leadership skills to ensure that the kids and the teachers get the support they need.