Changes

Public school enrollments declined in part because of the still functioning Tensas Academy, a private school in St. Joseph which opened in 1970 at the advent of desegregation. Located on land donated by the Panola Company of Fred Maher Miller (1915-1996). The company originated in the 20th century by  William Mackenzie Davidson (1857-1930), the founding mayor of St. Joseph and the father of the young man for whom the former Davidson High School was named. Fred Miller, who lived at Avondale Plantation in St. Joseph, was also the long-term president of the Tensas Parish School Board during the time of Thompson's service as superintendent. Tensas Academy had rapid success. Its [[football]] team, the Chiefs, won the state Class A championship in 1971 by defeating the Claiborne Parish Rebels from another academy north of Homer, Louisiana. Tensas Academy had 359 white students in the 1971-1972 academic year. In 2016, the academy website reported an approximate enrollment of two hundred. Only whites have applied to attend the academy, but non-whites would not be excluded where they to seek admission.<ref>Hathorn, "Education in Tensas Parish", p.  39-40.</ref>

Public school enrollments declined in part because of the still functioning Tensas Academy, a private school in St. Joseph which opened in 1970 at the advent of desegregation. Located on land donated by the Panola Company of Fred Maher Miller (1915-1996). The company originated in the 20th century by  William Mackenzie Davidson (1857-1930), the founding mayor of St. Joseph and the father of the young man for whom the former Davidson High School was named. Fred Miller, who lived at Avondale Plantation in St. Joseph, was also the long-term president of the Tensas Parish School Board during the time of Thompson's service as superintendent. Tensas Academy had rapid success. Its [[football]] team, the Chiefs, won the state Class A championship in 1971 by defeating the Claiborne Parish Rebels from another academy north of Homer, Louisiana. Tensas Academy had 359 white students in the 1971-1972 academic year. In 2016, the academy website reported an approximate enrollment of two hundred. Only whites have applied to attend the academy, but non-whites would not be excluded where they to seek admission.<ref>Hathorn, "Education in Tensas Parish", p.  39-40.</ref>

In 1974, Superintendent Thompson developed a policy to prevent teachers from abusing sick leave. He had found that some educators had taken time off to engage in private farming and business interests. Thompson also faced civil suits filed by some African-American educators who claimed unfair policies in his office. Tensas was a defendant in a suit by school boards in six parishes which sought to forbid the use of public funds to finance bus transportation and books and educational materials for private schools. Despite his specialization in handling disciplinary issues, Superintendent Thompson in 1976 struggled with vandalism of school board properties and sought parental assistance to halt disruptions. The matter grew sufficiently glaring that Thompson asked Sheriff Theo "Bill" Poe (1912-1988) to issue a reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects. Thompson was forced to drop the popular vocal music program at Davidson High School because of teacher-pupil funding guidelines. He grappled too with reductions in the Title I program of the [[Elementary and Secondary Education Act]] of 1965. In 1974, he ended the holding of baccalaureate ceremonies with a religious theme, which had long preceded high school commencements. In 1976, he managed to obtain completion of the renovation of Newellton High School, a $700,000 project.<ref>Hathorn, "Education in Tensas Parish", pp. 42-44.</ref>

In 1974, Superintendent Thompson developed a policy to prevent teachers from abusing sick leave. He had found that some educators had taken time off to engage in private farming and business interests. Thompson also faced civil suits filed by some African-American educators who claimed unfair policies in his office. Tensas was a defendant in a suit by school boards in six parishes which sought to forbid the use of public funds to finance bus transportation and books and educational materials for private schools. Despite his specialization in handling disciplinary issues, Superintendent Thompson in 1976 struggled with vandalism of school board properties and sought parental assistance to halt disruptions. The matter grew sufficiently glaring that Thompson asked Sheriff Theo "Bill" Poe (1912-1988) to issue a reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects. Thompson was forced to drop the popular vocal music program at Davidson High School because of teacher-pupil funding guidelines. He grappled too with reductions in the Title I program of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. In 1974, he ended the holding of baccalaureate ceremonies with a religious theme, which had long preceded high school commencements. In 1976, he managed to obtain completion of the renovation of Newellton High School, a $700,000 project.<ref>Hathorn, "Education in Tensas Parish", pp. 42-44.</ref>

In January 1977, Thompson resigned as the Tensas superintendent after nearly seven years in the position. Two weeks earlier, the school board had given him a  four-year contract renewal. Instead he became an assistant to state Superintendent Kelly Nix. Thompson said the new position, his last in education, offered "a chance for a greater impact on education" and noted too that he "could not turn down the financial benefits involved." Thompson's interim successor as superintendent, Harold Eugene Carroll (1927-1985), a native of [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], was soon replaced by William Edward Vosburg, Sr. (born October 13, 1940), the principal during the early years of desegregation at Newellton High School. Vosburg was born in Natchez, [[Mississippi]], but reared in New Roads in Pointe Coupee Parish. His original education experience had been in Port Arthur, [[Texas]]. He left the superintendent's position in 1981 to enter business in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], the hometown of his wife, the former Sarah Elizabeth "Beth" Young.<ref<Hathorn, "Education in Tensas Parish", pp. 45-48.</ref>

In January 1977, Thompson resigned as the Tensas superintendent after nearly seven years in the position. Two weeks earlier, the school board had given him a  four-year contract renewal. Instead he became an assistant to state Superintendent Kelly Nix. Thompson said the new position, his last in education, offered "a chance for a greater impact on education" and noted too that he "could not turn down the financial benefits involved." Thompson's interim successor as superintendent, Harold Eugene Carroll (1927-1985), a native of [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], was soon replaced by William Edward Vosburg, Sr. (born October 13, 1940), the principal during the early years of desegregation at Newellton High School. Vosburg was born in Natchez, [[Mississippi]], but reared in New Roads in Pointe Coupee Parish. His original education experience had been in Port Arthur, [[Texas]]. He left the superintendent's position in 1981 to enter business in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], the hometown of his wife, the former Sarah Elizabeth "Beth" Young.<ref<Hathorn, "Education in Tensas Parish", pp. 45-48.</ref>