But I know what you mean. Check out this story also in the AJC.
October 26, 2003 - Chief of Fulton schools explains exit [Full Text] Amid questions from Fulton County parents Friday, former Superintendent John Haro insisted he abruptly quit at midweek because he missed his family in Minnesota.
He said he especially missed his son, who is a high school senior. "I just couldn't miss his senior year," Haro said in a telephone interview. "Certainly, we thought we could do it; it was just too hard."
The board emerged from a closed-door executive session Thursday night and voted unanimously with no discussion to accept Haro's resignation, feuling speculation that he had fallen out of favor with the board over personnel and other matters.
Haro was not at the meeting; he was in Minnesota. His tenure lasted less than five months.
The Fulton school district spent almost $70,000 on the search that brought Haro to Fulton in June. Haro declared Fulton "one of the country's great school districts," and board members introduced him with great fanfare.
He drew an annual salary of $185,000 as well as perks such as a $700-per-month car allowance and an additional $750 per month for "routine expenses" he did not have to document.
Laura Stowell, whose children attend Woodland Elementary Charter School and Sandy Springs Middle School, said she was disappointed and surprised that Haro quit.
"He didn't come across as a flighty doofus," she said. "He came across as someone who was very serious and professional. It had to be something significant to make him jump."
Some parents pointed to two recent promotions of African-American principals in south Fulton to assistant superintendent posts. The board approved the hires, recommended by Haro, on split votes.
Board member Zenda Bowie, who lives in south Fulton, said she could not comment on the specifics of Haro's departure because of legal issues. She acknowledged that Haro's personnel appointments attracted attention from south Fulton residents who have long complained they are not as well represented in top administrative posts as north Fulton. "Some people have that opinion," she said.
Haro said Friday he could understand parents' frustration over his resignation. He said board reaction to his personnel recommendations was not a factor.
Jennifer Klein, whose children attend Heards Ferry Elementary and Riverwood High schools, expressed disappointment that Haro's tenure was short-lived. "Sometimes, you just can't know," she said. "He was delightful and had what we needed. His focus was on the whole county, which is what everyone wants."
Rosaland Thomas, a south Fulton parent whose daughter attends Westlake High School, said she was glad to see Haro go. "We're trying to get a new high school built," she said, adding that Haro did not attend either of two meetings parents held to discuss their wishes. "We have not had a chance to be heard."
The board agreed to pay Haro up to $15,000 per month for the next three months, said Glenn Brock, the Fulton school board attorney whose law firm conducted the search that brought Haro to Fulton.
He said Fulton's contract with his firm entitles the board to a free search because Haro left in less than a year.
Board members said they had not talked about when to start looking for a permanent superintendent.
The board named Michael Vanairsdale, formerly an assistant superintendent, as acting superintendent. He will be paid $145,000 for leading the 71,000-student district.
Meanwhile, Haro, who got a compensation package of at least $237,000 when he left the suburban Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district, said he plans to take a year off before looking for a new job. [End]