Payzant Affirms His Support for Plan at Gompers

San Diego city schools Supt. Tom Payzant reiterated his support Thursday night for a controversial renewal plan at Gompers Secondary School.

The plan is designed to allow more black neighborhood students into its award-winning, high-powered math-science program intended to attract whites to the Southeast San Diego school.

At a sparsely attended community meeting, Payzant followed up on his Tuesday report to school trustees, in which he said administrators and teachers who improperly handled a student demonstration in February would be disciplined. He also said several times that teachers who continue to fight the renewal plan will be moved to other schools if possible, and that he must objectively evaluate the management skills of embattled principal Marie Thornton despite her continued community support, which is largely along racial lines.

Key board sources told The Times earlier this week that Thornton will receive a written reprimand from Payzant for her actions during the demonstration, as will at least two teachers. More than 40 police officers responded to the demonstration--inappropriately, police later admitted--and a violent confrontation was only narrowly avoided.