JMC School Board avoids discussion of superintendent’s contract

JACKSON, Tenn.—A lot of discussion at last night’s Jackson-Madison County School Board Meeting, but none concerning the superintendent’s recent shocking decision.

Dr. Verna Ruffin announced during the school board work session Monday that she would not be seeking a contract extension.

On Thursday’s agenda the board was set to discuss her evaluations and to vote on to her contract extension.

Almost immediately, Chairman Jim Campbell motioned to delete that section of the agenda without any discussion on Dr. Ruffin’s decision.

“Given her statement Monday night that she didn’t seek an extension it was the only logical thing I thought to do,” Campbell said.

Campbell said Dr. Ruffin will continue to serve as the superintendent until the end of her contract, which is June 2017, or the next school board makes a different decision.

“It’s a fundamental decision that the board will have to make, but but by statue this board can not make that decision, it will be up to the board in September to do,” Campbell said.

Four of the nine positions will appear on the August 4 ballot.

Also discussed Thursday night: raises for district workers.

“A decision was made that our employees are gonna get a 3 percent raise across the board, all employees, and we are very pleased with that,” Dr. Ruffin said.

The hotly contested capital budget is still under discussion.

“There were some projects that we had asked money for and didn’t get spent for those projects in a timely manner that they had asked us to, and what they have done is said that we will fund so much of your capital,” board member Truman Murray said.

Murray said the commission will approve part of the capital budget for the school system to use immediately, but throughout the year the board will have to ask for permission from the commission to spend money already budgeted to the district.

“It is not our normal means of operation,” Dr. Ruffin said.

“The magnitude of the dollars we are looking at, to put that extra effort in the due diligence, to make sure we have got good, tight budgets, with good specifications, and we’re comfortable with our priorities,” Campbell said.

The school board will meet with the Education Vision Committee next Tuesday to discuss the amendment, as well as some additional funds the district said will roll over from this year’s budget.

Also discussed in the meeting; “Vision 2020” construction updates.

Dr. Ruffin gave an update on some of the schools helped by “Vision 2020.”

She said parking lot construction along with preparations for a full roof replacement at Pope Elementary are underway.

Rose Hill is also making a transition into a K-8 school.

The Montessori School is scheduled for a new parking lot later this summer, and new portables for Northeast Middle School are being installed.