McGill to Apply for Permanent Columbus Superintendent Position

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — After weeks of on-again, off-again debate, interim Columbus schools superintendent has decided to apply for the permanent position.

Edna McGill, who has been interim superintendent since last June, announced her decision this morning.

The deadline for applications is May 30 and the school board, working with its search consultants Page and Associates, has said it hopes to conduct interviews in June and have the position filled by July 1.

In a statement today, McGill said she will work for her current salary — $135,600 — rather than the $175,000 salary proposed by the board.

McGill is a former principal and top administrator with both the city and Lowndes County school districts. She retired two years ago after running unsuccessfully for Lowndes County school superintendent. She came out of retirement last year to serve as interim superintendent after the school board forced Dr. Martha Liddell out of the position.

The district has tried different approaches in the last decade to hiring superintendents. In 2003, the district looked at internal and external candidates for its top job before hiring Dr. Lester Beason, of New Mexico, for the position. He retired after four years and the district again hired from outside when Dr. Del Phillips was brought in. Phillips left three years ago for a similar job in Tennessee.

EDNA MCGILL STATEMENT:

I have decided to apply for the position of Superintendent of CMSD.

Many factors have been considered in my decision. A year ago, I came out of retirement at the urging of so many friends, teachers, and community members to serve as interim superintendent. I believe we (district management, leadership team and I) have had a positive impact on this district over the course of this year. My decision to apply for the permanent position is based on that same set of circumstances. I have been urged by so many community members, educators, parents and friends to apply, and I believe our team can continue to make a positive impact for our students and community.

Over the course of this year, serving as Interim superintendent, the district management and leadership team have stabilized the district. We are accredited with no deficiencies for this school year by the Mississippi Department of Education. We have a budget that is in excellent shape with a fund balance of over $6 million. Debt for this year has been paid and a plan is in place to reduce debt over the next ten years. The 2014-2015 budget is almost complete. Districts are required by MDE to have an annual financial audit and ours is scheduled for June. We look forward to having that done.

Plans are in place for summer teacher training and for the instructional focus next year. We now have advocates for curriculum and instruction in place that will support the rigorous demands of the curriculum over the next few years.

Initiatives have begun which will place this district on the forefront of education in Mississippi, but more than that meet the requirements of MDE, and provide our students with the educational opportunities they and our community deserve. We are working on training and full implementation of Common Core State Standards, significant technology upgrades, implementation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), Early College High School, and increasing the graduation rate.

I am willing to remain in this position at the same rate of pay I am currently receiving ($135,600 with no benefits package) rather than the $175,000 plus benefits package that has been proposed. That would be enough savings to fund a teacher salary each year. For me, it is about the district, this community, and our students.

If I am the successful applicant, I will serve 4 years with the goal of having CMSD be a top rated district in this state. If I am not the successful applicant, I will graciously assist in the transition. My husband and I live in the city and he owns a business in the city. We want Columbus to be a community that continues to prosper and be a place where the children of our community can live and work.