Jackson County School Board reorganized, principal appointed

A new chairman and vice-chairwoman were appointed to the Jackson County School Board Tuesday.

Kenny Griffin was unanimously chosen to serve as this year’s chairman of the board. Betty Duffee was chosen unanimously to serve as the vice-chairwoman.

Dr. Terry Nichols was recognized as the outgoing chairman. He will remain on the school board.

New Superintendent Lee Miller also recommended Mary Sue Neves as his replacement as principal of Golson Elementary School. The board approved Miller’s recommendation.

Neves served as the Calhoun County Superintendent of Schools for four years up until this week. She was not re-elected to the superintendent’s job earlier this month.

The board did not approve another recommendation made by Miller, which was to promote Patricia Hall from assistant principal to principal of the Golson Annex.

Part of Golson Elementary, the Golson Annex is made up of the Head Start, Exceptional Student Education and pre-kindergarten programs. Currently, the principal of Golson Elementary is also the principal of the Golson Annex, with each program having an assistant principal.

Miller said the change would save the district money, but without a financial plan laid out the board was skeptical and voted against it.

Nichols suggested revisiting the idea in a work session or during a staffing review.

Miller made one more recommendation — to make former superintendent Danny Sims a teacher on special assignment to Graceville High School. The board approved the recommendation.