Ellington

Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Earl Watkins announced that he will not seek to renew his term when his contract expires next year.

"While it is a joy and an honor to serve as superintendent of Jackson Public Schools, it is opportune now for me to begin to take the appropriate steps to consider other opportunities of professional growth," Watkins said in a press release. "Accordingly, I have informed the board that I will not seek an extension of my contract beyond June 30, 2009."

The board accepted his resignation and said it would begin immediately casting around for a new superintendent.

Jackson Public School Board of Trustee Jonathan Larkin called Watkins "one of the best superintendents this state has ever had."

"Nationally, statistics show us that superintendents of moderate to large districts stay an average of two and a half to three years. By the time Dr. Watkins leaves, he will have been here seven years. He stayed a lot longer than the national average," Larkin said. "As a result, the district had some great accomplishments from programs and processes that he put into place."

One of those accomplishments was the $150 million school bond issue, devised to replace the system's aging infrastructure.

Watkins faced a sexual harassment lawsuit from former Chastain Middle School Principal Michael Ellis, who claimed Watkins fired him after the principal spurned his advances.

Watkins said he fired Ellis for doctoring the Chastain payroll.

The district settled the lawsuit—while admitting no wrongdoing—with a $350,000 payment to Ellis and his wife. The settlement did not include court fees, and the terms of the settlement are not public.