(August 12, 2014) Jackson TN –

Transportation Audit, Staffing, and School Consolidation Discussed at Education Vision Meeting

The group of commissioner and school board members meet monthly to discuss primarily financial and budget school related matters but the conversation can lead to other topics.

At Tuesday’s meeting, co-chairman Jim Campbell brought commissioner up-to-date on the latest hiring issues. School started with many teacher positions vacant in part due to late resignations, according to Superintendent Verna Ruffin. There are still 10 positions to be filled plus 17 positions that are hired but are awaiting drug screen and other background work to be completed.

At Thursday’s school board meeting board members will consider and take possible action on a proposed transportation audit. The audit will look at a number of bus and transportation factors. Campbell told Tuesday night’s group he thinks there are some savings to be realized including a 22% redundancy program for busses. The audit will also take up passenger and zone effectiveness, maintenance, and operation efficiency among other things.

Campbell told the commissioners that between end-year balance surplus, and savings in transportation, workers comp, insurance, the system could see a 1.2 – 1.3 million dollar surplus. Campbell said the system will need the money to operate the additional time he thinks it will take to properly plan for system restructure and consolidation.

The board will meet Thursday 6:00 PM at the School Resource Center on North Parkway, Jackson TN