ST. BERNARD — St. Bernard-Elmwood Place City Schools Superintendent James Thomas gathered staff and teachers Tuesday morning to announce his resignation. Mr. Thomas has been hired as assistant superintendent in charge of curriculum and instruction at Three Rivers School District.

        The school board is expected to accept his resignation, effective July 31, on Monday. He'll start his new job Aug. 1.

        Mr. Thomas' resignation came two months after the school board unanimously rejected his recommendation not to renew the contract of John Estep, principal of the Educational Advancement Center, the district's alternative school. Hundreds of district residents had attended two heated public meetings in March to discuss the recommendation.

        “I leave here with no hard feelings whatsoever,” Mr. Thomas said. “I've been here a long time — 24 years. I've never been anywhere that people care more about kids than they do in this school district, and that's why I stayed so long.

        “I decided after a lot of prayer and reflection that a new challenge was going to be in the best interests of the board, in the best interests of my family and myself.”

        He said he was not forced to resign. It was a mutual agreement with the board, he said. Mr. Thomas had one year left on his contract.

        “I could have waited another year, but I want this district to make progress, and we have done some good things,” he said, citing higher proficiency test scores, passage of a levy last year, and new programs to improve student achievement.

        “I think we're poised in a very good position to do even greater things in the future. I didn't want to be an obstacle to that progress. I want the district to move ahead.”

        Mr. Thomas started with the district as a high school counselor. He was principal at Elmwood Place Elementary for 14 years, then moved to an assistant superintendent's job. He's been superintendent two years.

        “In my heart, I'm saddened it had to come to this point,” said board member Joe Wheeler. “I thank him for his 25 years or so with the district. Wherever he goes, I hope and expect he'll be successful.”

        News of the resignation upset Elmwood Place Mayor Richard Ellison. “Jim Thomas is, to me, is an outstanding individual. You look up integrity in the dictionary, and you find his picture.”

        Mr. Ellison said he thinks the board pressured Mr. Thomas to resign because of personal vendettas, not job performance.

        “I've never ever failed to support and vote for a school levy, but with this current board, I'm going to have to consider different options in the future. I'm not talking as mayor, but as a private citizen.”

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