A request to combine the principal roles at the lower and middle elementary schools was tabled by the Kosciusko Board of Trustees Tuesday night.
Superintendent of Schools Gina Smith requested that Michelle Nowell be put over pre-kindergarten through third grade with a salary increase to be included. Nowell is currently the principal at the lower elementary, which houses pre-k through first grade.
“The district did not have any applications for the upper elementary spot with two years of prior experience,” Smith said.
During the public comment period, former board member Kim Williams addressed the board with concerns after “a qualified minority candidate was turned down for a position at the elementary school.”
“The gentleman (Eric Boone of Hattiesburg) had several years of experience in education and was an assistant principal at a gold ribbon school,” Williams stated.
“It concerns me that we had a qualified candidate apply for a position at the elementary school and he was not put into consideration,” board member Randy Fuller said.
The board will reconvene Wednesday, June 29 at 6 p.m. to readdress the matter.
In other action the board approved Macy Wilbanks as the athletics director and school testing coordinator at the high school. Wilbanks served as an assistant softball coach and junior high basketball coach last season.
Former intervention specialist Joshua Dodd was appointed as the federal programs director, elementary curriculum coordinator and testing coordinator, while Henry Coats was tabbed as an assistant principal at the high school.
Others approved for positions include: Kayla Brown and Anita Jenkins at the junior high; Shana Blaylock as teach and Billie Jamison as counselor at upper; Logan Cheek as a teach along with Erin Cox, Brenda Young, Allison Rush, Amanda Yates and Tina Gatlin as assistant teachers at the lower elementary.
Other actions taken by the board include:
• approved non-certified salaries;
• approved athletics supplements for junior high and high school sports;
• approved the special education project for the 2016-17 school year.
