JacksonHeraldTODAY

The Pendergrass City Council eliminated half of its workforce on Tuesday night, including dismissing its city clerk.

In a unanimous vote by the council, the following five positions were cut: City clerk Katherine Rintoul; assistant city clerk Renee Martinez; full-time police officer Scott Rogers; full-time police investigator Mark Abruzzino; and a full-time position in streets and parks that is currently vacant.

Mayor Monk Tolbert met with the employees following the meeting to inform them of the council’s decision.

“I have evaluated our organizational structure and determined that we must eliminate employee positions by 50 percent immediately,” Tolbert said. “We will offer our displaced employees a severance package and they are eligible for COBRA benefits for their insurance needs. I wish these employees good luck and each of them will get an excellent reference from me.” [Full Story »] 

The Jackson County School System has announced the three days it has scheduled for teachers to take days off without pay in response to the governor’s state-mandated furlough.

The days will be: Wednesday, Aug. 5, which had been scheduled as a pre-planning day; Thursday, Oct. 15, which was to be a teacher work day; and Monday, Jan. 4, which was also scheduled as a teacher work day. The reductions in pay will be spread over the entire year so that the impact on any one paycheck will be minimized, leaders state.

The Jefferson City School System had earlier set its three furlough days for Monday, July 27, and Friday, July 31, which had been set as pre-planning days; and Oct. 2, which had been scheduled as a teacher work day.

Which schools in Jackson County are the best?

That question is difficult to answer, given the myriad of ways to evaluate a school. Academic, social, athletic and other factors all come to the table on the issue.

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