2015/05/20 – Jackson Public School board members on Tuesday voted for a new four-year contract for Superintendent Cedrick Gray.

The board had extended Gray’s existing three-year contract last month for another year, but board members believed a longer-term contract was in order, officials said.

“Soon after we extended the contract, the superintendent talked to me about our feelings and beginning a dialogue about a new contract,” Board President Otha Burton said.

Burton said he then polled board members, who unanimously agreed a new contract was appropriate.

The new contract is for four years with an automatic one-year extension unless there’s a decision by the board to non-renew. It changes the way the superintendent’s performance will be evaluated, including measuring district-specific goals.

The board awarded Gray a slight raise last month, topping the superintendent’s new salary off at $205,000, when his original contract was extended. Board members cited a positive performance evaluation in addition to growth in the district as reasons for the raise and extension.

Gray said at the time the number of JPS schools rated ‘F’ by the education department have decreased from 17 to eight, though the district overall still retains its ‘D’ rating.

Gray and board members also cited a drop in discipline incidents from this time last year and a slight uptick in graduation rates, according to most recent data.

An alternative discipline program called Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS), which emphasizes the need for school staff to promote appropriate behaviors through modeling and reinforcing good behavior, was adopted by the district in 2012.

PBIS also advocates for using “minor misbehaviors” as opportunities for “teaching moments,” according to the district’s code of conduct.

The district’s graduation rate also increased from 64 percent to 65.1 percent from the 2012-2013 school year to the last school year.

Gray, whose position is appointed, came to JPS from a small Tennessee school district in 2012.

The new contract will be effective July 1.

Source: The Clarion-Ledger 

Kate Royals