Students at Jackson County Comprehensive High School will not see some old familiar faces in the school office starting this fall.
That's because the Jackson County Board of Education approved Principal Todd McGhee's resignation, effective June 30, along with the retirement of part-time assistant principal Bruce Yates. Another part-time assistant principal, Laura Ruffin, was originally listed among the administrators to be rehired, but the final list approved on Thursday didn't include her name.
The changes were announced at last week’s school board meeting, which primarily focused on personnel issues.
Top administrators at JCCHS leaving
At the board's work session three days earlier, Superintendent Shannon Adams originally proposed 66 personnel changes, including 48 administrator contract renewals, four new hires, eight transfers, five resignations or terminations and one retirement. That meeting included a two-hour executive session to discuss the personnel matters.
The final list of personnel hires that emerged at Thursday's board meeting included 45 administrators who will remain at their current schools, and the four new hires are filling existing vacant positions.
Teresa Strickland, originally proposed to stay as assistant principal at West Jackson Primary School, will transfer to West Jackson Intermediate in the fall. Ruffin and Yates Also were absent from the list of administrators.
The final list of personnel hires that emerged at Thursday's board meeting included 45 administrators who will remain at their current schools, and the four new hires are filling existing vacant positions.
Teresa Strickland, originally proposed to stay as assistant principal at West Jackson Primary School, will transfer to West Jackson Intermediate in the fall. Ruffin and Yates Also were absent from the list of administrators.
I no longer have a child in school, but I can tell you without question, the salaries that these people EARN is well earned. Ask most band parents and they will tell you the same thing......the work ethic that the band kids learn from the program makes them better students and adults more prepared for the world that awaits beyond school.
180,000.000 is a little much for a band program at a school with less than a thousand students, wouldn't you say? There are not many, if any, similiar salaries in the state for a school as small as JCCHS. Most do NOT have any type of assistant, let alone one making 90,000. Please, most of us put in more hours and make half the pay. Sell that tired story somewhere else...no one is buying it here.
It does not matter how much someone is paid, what matters is what the students are getting out of it. If our school systems continue to teach based on STATE standards-- then may god help our nation. No student left behind means no student gets ahead!!
I do support the school functions. However, the first place my money goes-- the BAND PROGRAM and WHY-- because this program has pride, they win. Go to a marching festival with these kids and you will see why this band receives standing O's and why other schools like to hear them.
Being in band isn't about how many high dollar competitions you can win, it's been good at what you do. If you go and hear JCCHS band, you can hear the quality in their sound... and you can see their discipline on the field. Even with EJ's competitions and other bands across the state, you can tell the difference in the appearance and tone of the band.
The band get near to nothing in funding from the school, not even gas to go back and forth from football games. They hold many annual fund raisers and have very loyal parents that help with everything that's needed. They aren't begging for money from the schools, they realize the show must go on... and it is.
As for the other comments about what pulls in more money for the school systems... I can say that the JC Band is probably the most supported activity that JCCHS has going for it.
I'll tell you why... next time you go to a football game.. what and see how many people stay to watch the halftime show.. because they are only there for the band. Who wants to come see a football team that always loses?
Back to us, in the band.
Now people say, "oh you're in the band, of course you're going to support them." But I support them because the Adams do wonderful things for us. They give back more of their time, effort and money to us, while half the teachers can't even remember our names. They deserve every freakin cent they make.
Now going back to the money issue...Did you know that everything we do relies on fundraisers and nice people donating money to us? We couldn't even go to some of the football games last year because their was ACTUALLY no money for gas. You can only hold so many fundraisers and get so much money from people at a time. They're are 250 of us and double that at the middle school. (where Mrs.A works part time for free by the way)
Fun fact: My friend in another band has to fork over about $500 everytime they go to a so-called 'real competition'. Would you like to do that every other week for your kid?
Besides, why would we go to competitions were bands got lower than an 'outstanding'?
We're pretty good, in a completely trying to sound conceited way.(;