King would drop suit for no-show school job

Amy McConnell Schaarsmith:

Andrew King, former interim superintendent of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, has promised to drop his threatened lawsuit against the district in exchange for being given what amounts to a no-show job for at least three years.

King would waive all legal claims against the district and leave his current post as chief academic officer -- the district's No. 2 position -- in exchange for appointment as special assistant to the superintendent in charge of complying with federal No Child Left Behind Act, according to an e-mail message his lawyer sent the district yesterday.

Unless informed otherwise, King's only duty would be to receive reports from current employees on whether the district is obeying the law, the message stated. He would be paid a starting salary of $150,000 a year, an increase from the $125,000 a year he currently receives.

"Unless requested to do so by the superintendent, [King] would have no policy-making function or responsibility," states the e-mail from King's lawyer, Avrum Levicoff, to Bruce Campbell, a lawyer for the school district. "Unless requested to do so by the superintendent, he would have no reporting responsibility ... He would attend no senior staff meetings. He would be free to travel as needed, attend trainings and conferences as he felt appropriate and he would structure his own responsibilities relative to acting as the district's official representative for the No Child Left Behind responsibility."

After three years, the message states, King would have the option of retiring or of continuing to hold his job -- complete with annual raises -- for an additional two years.

The proposal, which some board members said created hot debate, was rejected behind closed doors before last night's legislative meeting. Instead, board members approved moving King into a new position, "special assistant to the superintendent on special assignment," for which he will continue to be paid his current salary of $125,000 a year. The vote was 6-0, with Mark Brentley, Randall Taylor and Floyd McCrea abstaining.

But the duties for that position haven't been decided, according to schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt, who proposed the transfer that was approved.

"Andy and I will have to work those out together," Roosevelt said.

In addition, school board members agreed to eliminate King's former position of chief academic officer, and create a new position -- deputy superintendent for instruction, assessment and accountability -- to carry out the job King did as chief academic officer.

Beginning Oct. 3, John R. Young, who retired from the city schools in 1991 after 32 years as a teacher and administrator, will fill that new position until Jan. 31, 2006 at a cost of $2,400 a week. His pay cannot exceed $38,400, but Roosevelt plans to recruit a candidate to fill the position permanently while also paying King for whatever duties are carved out for him.

Roosevelt has no power to fire King, and board members could only fire him for cause, and only after a tenure hearing. Under the Pennsylvania School Code, causes for dismissal can include violations such as persistent negligence, willful violation of school laws, two consecutive unsatisfactory evaluations, intemperance, incompetence and immorality.

King, a 53-year-old grandfather of six, was arrested in 1999 for having sex with a homeless woman in the back of a parked truck behind Robert L. Vann Elementary School in the Hill District. He was charged with open lewdness but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct.

King was demoted, but worked his way back up the district's administrative ladder and became interim superintendent after former superintendent John W. Thompson was ousted in January.

King applied for the position of permanent superintendent, but was not among the 10 semifinalists picked by search committee members.

As a result, King threatened the board on Sept. 1 with a lawsuit, claiming that racial discrimination had played a part in his rejection.

Show the boss who is King

Indecent proposal / Andrew King wants a big job in order to do little