JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
The Jackson Public School Board voted Tuesday night to hire a financial team to help the state's second largest school district save money.
One board member abstained from voting because Superintendent Dr. Cedrick Gray, on the job for roughly two months, could not immediately provide specifics on how much the team would cost, or how much the district would benefit.
As he answered questions from reporters Wednesday morning, Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Cedrick Gray was also asked about three employees he brought from his former school district in Fayette County, Tennessee.
Vonda Beaty, Lorene Essex, and Andrew Perpener are all administrators. Their salaries at JPS range between $86,000 and $112,000. They also reportedly received big supplements to their salaries under Gray's administration in Fayette County.
We asked if the positions needed to be filled, since they were vacant before the three filled them.
"We do need them," Dr. Gray says. "The reason they were vacant is because people who were in those positions retired."
He says they have successful track records.
"Our former district received exemplary status. It takes sometimes fresh eyes, fresh ideas to come in, take a look and see how to improve the educational landscape."
Academic improvement is a priority. JPS received a "D" grade overall on the latest round of standardized tests. But Dr. Gray says the scores are an improvement over the year before, so the district has momentum.
The Superintendent also confirmed a story we reported last week. Timberlawn Elementary school is dealing with a mold problem. Extra custodial staff have been dispatched to work on the problem. The parent we interviewed, Elvante Seaton, told us there's also a mold issue at Pecan Park Elementary School. We asked JPS Facilities Manager Fred Davis if other schools had mold.
"We don't have any problems any place else right now," he told us, adding that mold is 'everywhere'.
We asked if there is a mold problem specifically at Pecan Park.
"Not really, but there is mold there," he says.
Gray also discussed a dire need for bus drivers for JPS. Interested applicants can apply online, or call 601-960-8919.
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