Photo courtesy of Jackson-Madison County School System
The work of improving educational outcomes for public school students in West Tennessee will continue under Jackson-Madison County School System Superintendent Dr. Marlon King as Board members approved a new four-year contract for the veteran schools director. The new agreement will save JMCSS thousands of dollars thanks to collaborative efforts between Dr. King and Board members throughout the contract development process.
“It was our desire, as a Board and initiated by Janice Hampton, to reward Dr. King after remarkable outcomes in his first year. Dr. King, in working with Board Attorney Dale Thomas, presented creative ways for us to reward him while also reducing costs related to the Office of Superintendent,” Board Chairman Pete Johnson said.
Rather than continuing the yearly vehicle allowance in Dr. King’s original contract, Board officials are honoring Dr. King’s request to use a vehicle currently owned by the district. That adjustment alone will save the district more than $30,000 over the duration of the Superintendent’s contract.
“While we were pleasantly surprised by Dr. King’s willingness to cut costs, he’s really been very conservative when approaching the budget throughout his time with us. The bonus we’re awarding him for measurable gains in his first year is well deserved,” Board member Sherry Franks said.
In keeping with his focus on the betterment of JMCSS students, Dr. King, along with his wife Latisha, are using the $10,000 bonus to jumpstart an endowment (i.e., SEAL) for our public schools that supports Science, Education, the Arts, or Legal.
“The field of Education has been a blessing to my family. My wife is a science teacher and our shared love for education, knowledge, and learning propels us to do things differently sometimes. We’re both grounded in faith. We want to bless the children in our Jackson-Madison County community. This endowment will allow us to leave a legacy in the process,” Dr. King said.
