Highlights
Arthur C. "Art" Johnson is the superintendent of schools in Palm Beach County, Florida. Appointed in March 2001, Johnson enjoys enormous popularity and is under contract through the end of June 2012. Born Nov. 14, 1944, Johnson oversees the nation's 11th largest school system, a $3.4 billion annual budget, nearly 22,000 employees and 169,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. In April 2007, the Palm Beach County School Board agreed to maintain Johnson's annual compensation at $300,000 plus benefits; $50,000 of that is deferred pay invested and available upon his retirement. The board also tacked on a year to his contract and decided to consider future contract extensions on a yea...
Arthur C. "Art" Johnson is the superintendent of schools in Palm Beach County, Florida. Appointed in March 2001, Johnson enjoys enormous popularity and is under contract through the end of June 2012. Born Nov. 14, 1944, Johnson oversees the nation's 11th largest school system, a $3.4 billion annual budget, nearly 22,000 employees and 169,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. In April 2007, the Palm Beach County School Board agreed to maintain Johnson's annual compensation at $300,000 plus benefits; $50,000 of that is deferred pay invested and available upon his retirement. The board also tacked on a year to his contract and decided to consider future contract extensions on a year-by-year basis. The School Board can fire Johnson at any time without any reason, by giving him 90 days notice. He would be eligible for up to six months of his salary. But Johnson has already had a longer tenure than his immediate predecessors in the county, and he has served longer than most superintendents anywhere. Politically savvy and well-respected among state leaders, Johnson says he has rejected offers to leave and intends to remain in office. Under his watch, the school district of Palm Beach County has earned an "A" rating from the Florida Department of Education for three straight years based on student performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. No other urban district can make the claim. Principals say Johnson is a wonderful motivator. Called simply "Dr. J" or "Doc" by school district administrators and others, Johnson is a career public educator who rose through the ranks to become a high school principal, chief academic officer, and ultimately the county's schools superintendent. He also served two years as an elected School Board member prior to his appointment as superintendent. "Public education is the genius of our democracy" is Johnson's favorite catchphrase. A former high school wrestling standout, Johnson earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of South Florida in 1967, and advanced degrees from Florida State University in 1970 and 1977. Before becoming a School Board member and superintendent, Johnson was best known as the boisterous leader of Boca Raton and Spanish River high schools from 1983 to 1996. He took a strong stance against gangs and kept order in the hallways with a bullhorn. Yet he often clowned around for students, once bungee jumping from the gym ceiling. Former Superintendent Joan Kowal promoted Johnson to area superintendent, then forced him out when a 1997 investigation concluded that during Johnson's watch, a Spanish River High teacher had sent about 200 misbehaving students to a shrouded cubbyhole with a sign that said "Welcome to Hell." Johnson filed a lawsuit seeking reinstatement, but he dropped the matter after winning a seat on the School Board in 1998. Johnson was one of the board members who later voted to fire Kowal. After Kowal's departure, Johnson served as chief academic officer. His fellow board members named him chief academic officer in October. As superintendent, Johnson has survived a few controversial episodes. In 2001, he transferred Dreyfoos School of the Arts Principal Amelia Ostrosky to Jupiter Middle School and launched a broad investigation of personnel at the school. The investigation outraged Ostrosky supporters and ended up costing the district more than $1 million in investigative and legal fees. In 2002, Johnson recommended, and the School Board approved, a plan to move Atlantic High School from its old location on Seacrest Boulevard to a site on West Atlantic Avenue. The decision came at the request of Delray Beach officials. The move sparked protests and lawsuits but the anger was directed more at the School Board members and Delray Beach officials than at Johnson. One of his administration's greatest accomplishments was the successful 2004 voter referendum of a half-percent sales tax to fund school construction projects. Johnson relied on enormous support from the business community to pull it off. A Boca Raton resident, Johnson is an avid boater and real estate investor outside of his school-related duties. He is married and has two children. More information about the school district can be found at www.palmbeachschools.org.
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Ire over teachers' pay boils up
South Florida Sun-SentinelPalm Beach County teachers this week began the school year without salary increases. Union President Robert Dow pointed at the School Board on Wednesday and called the situation "a bunch of crap." "Sorry, but my mind just keeps going back to the word...Tags: Wages and Pensions, Contracts
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Palm Beach County schools close for second day of classes
South Florida Sun-SentinelAfter Monday's totally soggy first day of school in Palm Beach County, students are drying off at home today. Tropical Storm Fay forced school officials to cancel classes and all activities on day two. Superintendent Art Johnson said his administration...Tags: Beach Vacations, Hurricanes, Disasters, Broward County, Natural Disasters
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Delray Beach: Breakfast to welcome new teachers in area
The Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation will conduct its Education/New Teacher breakfast at 7:15 a.m. Thursday. The breakfast is to welcome new teachers in the Delray Beach area. Palm Beach County schools Superintendent Art...Tags: Beach Vacations, Wine, Beer, and Spirits, Clubs and Associations, Delray Beach
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Palm Beach County: Teacher raise negotiations fail to reach an agreement
After more than two hours of negotiations Friday, the Palm Beach County School District and the Classroom Teachers Association were unable to come to terms on a raise for educators. "There is a cloud over future negotiations," said union president Robert...Tags: Chicago Transit Authority, Transportation, Palm Beach County School District
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Tax swap language on ballot ruled by judge to be misleading
South Florida Sun-SentinelA state judge's ruling striking the so-called tax swap from the Nov. 4 ballot is a beginning, rather than an end, to a high-stakes, time-crunched legal battle to determine whether the plan is put before voters. Hours after Leon County Circuit Judge...Tags: Palm Beach (Palm Beach, Florida), Local Authority, Property, Charlie Crist, Sales
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Teachers study up for first day of class
South Florida Sun-SentinelEducation is in Edward Harris II's blood. His father is the principal of L.C. Swain Middle in Greenacres. His mother is the principal of Congress Middle in Boynton Beach. Harris himself is a product of Palm Beach County schools: He graduated from...Tags: National Government, Beach Vacations, Teaching and Learning, Wages and Pensions, Government
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Judge dismisses ACLU lawsuit against the Palm Beach County School District
South Florida Sun-SentinelA Palm Beach County judge this week dismissed a class-action lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union against local education officials over the county's high school graduation rate. Circuit Judge Jonathan Gerber ruled that the ACLU, on behalf...Tags: Beach Vacations, Trials, University of South Florida, Judges, Palm Beach County
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Veteran principal denies charges that she inflated enrollment figures
South Florida Sun-SentinelFacing career-threatening misconduct allegations, a veteran Palm Beach County principal denied the charges and vowed to battle her accusers "to the end," according to statements released Monday. The case against Gwendolyn Johnson comes before the...Tags: Charter Schools, Middle Schools
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Jupiter principal faces suspension for allegedly inflating enrollment figures
South Florida Sun-SentinelA Palm Beach County middle school principal faces a 20-day suspension without pay for allegedly inflating student enrollment figures and awarding fake grades last fall, according to documents released Thursday. Superintendent Art Johnson is seeking the...Tags: Jupiter
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Palm Beach County School District to categorize 83 troubled schools
South Florida Sun-SentinelEighty-three Palm Beach County schools will receive various levels of support and corrective measures this year to comply with changing Adequate Yearly Progress requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school district on Thursday...Tags: John F. Kennedy, Beach Vacations, Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, Lake Worth, Academic Progress
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Palm Beach County schools update policy on 'inappropriate' books
South Florida Sun-SentinelThe Perks of Being a Wallflower can be found on the shelves of 18 middle and high school libraries in Palm Beach County. But the copy of the 213-page book at Seminole Ridge High in The Acreage recently came under scrutiny. Just before the end of the...Tags: Beach Vacations, Palm Beach (Palm Beach, Florida), Belief and Faith, Palm Beach County, Libraries and Museums
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Principal accused of inflating records reassigned
South Florida Sun-SentinelA Palm Beach County middle school principal under investigation for allegedly inflating student enrollment and awarding fake grades last fall has been removed. Administrators on Tuesday transferred Gwendolyn Johnson from Independence Middle in Jupiter to...Tags: Charter Schools, Prosecution
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