TSBA holds community meetings in JMCSS Superintendent search

JACKSON, Tenn.– A series of community meetings held Wednesday hope to help in the search for the next leader of the Jackson-Madison County school district.

Elected officials, educators, and community members spoke directly with representatives from the Tennessee School Board Association.

“To try and get a feel for what the community is really looking for in a superintendent, what they feel the main issues are, what the problems are,” Randall Bennett with the TSBA said.

The district is paying the organization to help navigate through the answers from an online survey. “It helps us to get another perspective from the outside that we might not of,” Madison County Commissioner Doug Stephenson said.

Currently available online, residents have a chance to rank more than 20 characteristics they think an ideal superintendent candidate should possess.

The TSBA anticipates presenting three to five candidates to the board on February 9. Interviews would begin the following week.

As part of these meetings questions were asked about district performance and future challenges a superintendent could face.

Several people said they want to see more emphasis put on vocational training and want more transparency from the top.

County commissioner and former educator Barbara Johnson said she would like the next district leader to have a strong connection with both teachers and students. “That gives you a lot of support and it can’ keep you from having a lot of problems,” Johnson said.