O.K.C. Board Settles With Superintendent
Thursday, January 24th, 2008
Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma City School Board accepted the resignation of suspended Superintendent John Q. Porter Wednesday in an agreement in which board Chairman Cliff Hudson also resigned, ending weeks of bitterness between the two men.
After meeting privately for about 30 minutes to discuss Porter’s employment, the board voted 6-1 to accept a settlement agreement that resolves the protracted dispute and ushers Porter out as superintendent after less than seven months on the job.
Under the agreement, Porter will be paid his salary and health insurance premiums through June 30 and Porter must reimburse the district $5,000 in disputed expenses and claims. In a separate 6-1 vote, the board voted to pay Porter’s settlement expenses totaling $71,530.
The agreement also requires Hudson to resign after about seven years on the board and rescinds the board’s earlier adoption of a series of allegations claiming Porter was involved with financial irregularities, mainly concerning his personal expenses.
Hudson offered to step down earlier this month in exchange for Porter’s resignation.
See Also
See other stories on education issues in Oklahoma. See data on Oklahoma’s public school system.
Porter, who has clashed with Hudson on a variety of management issues, did not attend the meeting or the board’s executive session. Board member Wilfredo Santos Rivera, who cast each of the no votes, said he had hoped to hear from Porter at a board meeting that had been planned for Feb. 6 to consider firing the superintendent.
“He was denied his opportunity to tell his side of the story,” Rivera said.
The meeting had none of the acrimony that had characterized previous meetings where Porter’s supporters spoke out against efforts to dismiss him.
Porter was suspended with pay on Jan. 7. A week later the board had to suspend him again because the earlier meeting did not comply with state open meeting laws.
“Our concern at the present time is quality education in Oklahoma City,” said the Rev. John Reed, head of a coalition of black clergy that backed Porter, who is black.
“I’m not disappointed in Dr. Porter at all. I’m disappointed at what has happened,” Reed said.
“We have hit the rewind button. We have whitewashed everything,” said the Rev. Teron Gaddis.
Impact on Voters
Some officials have questioned whether the turmoil will affect voter sentiment on a one-cent sales tax to pay for improvements to the Ford Center in hopes of luring an NBA team to the city. The election is planned March 4.
“We want big league. But we want big league education,” Gaddis said.
Rivera said Porter’s departure will force the board to begin a new search for a superintendent. Porter, a former deputy superintendent for the 140,000-student Montgomery County public school district in Rockville, Md., was hired following a nationwide search that lasted almost one year.
“It’s a long, arduous process,” Rivera said. Sandra Park has been named acting superintendent.
Before adjourning the meeting, Hudson reflected on his seven years on the board and “a whole series of initiatives” launched in the 35,000-student Oklahoma City school district, including the MAPS for Kids school improvement program that has resulted in construction of four new schools and renovations to 20 others.
In October, voters overwhelming approved a $248.3 million school bond package that will pay for capital improvements, new equipment and other upgrades.
School Board member Thelma Parks said she appreciated Hudson’s service on the board although “we have not always agreed on everything.”
