JACKSON Tenn – At Thursday’s Board of Education meeting the members had only a few items of business.

Superintendent Verna Ruffin asked the members to allow her to create a new Transportation Director position. The job will be a Central Office position under the Building and Operations Director John Mills and will work with the current Supervisor of Bus Transportation, Grant Ward.

This is the second time Ruffin has asked for the new position. By board policy the superintendent has hiring authority to fill existing jobs but must have board authority to create a new position.

Ruffin presented the position as a way to address existing transportation problems and a future savings for the system. Although Ruffin told board members she could not guarantee how much would be saved she said she could easily see a $300,000 savings benefit long-term to the system.

Board member Dave Bratcher said he could see potential to hiring an additional person but he was concerned about spending savings from the bus route reorganization on a new hire.

Board member Bob Alvey said he was opposed to the hire because he could not see spending money on anything at this point that was not student education resource or for teachers.

Bratcher amended the motion to create the job by stipulating the money had to come from an existing central office expense. His motion was to make the salary expense budget neutral.

The amendment passed 5-4 and the motion passed 7-2 with Alvey and Clifft voting no.

If the money can not be found then the position cannot be filled.

Ruffin will begin looking to fill the position as soon as possible. The salary range is approximately $85, 000 annually.

The board members elected leadership for the coming year. Jim Campbell was elected board chairman for a third term. David Clifft made the nomination and said the district is in the process of a significant task that will take at least another year to complete and it seemed important not to change leadership at this time.

Bob Alvey nominated Dave Bratcher for board chair. There were no other nominations for the seat. the vote was 7-2 with Alvey and Campbell voting for Bratcher.

Dave Bratcher was unanimously elected vice chair. Bob Alvey was elected Parliamentarian

The terms for the seats are two years.