Video: Okolona School Board Makes Selection for Superintendent

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OKOLONA, Miss. (WCBI)- The Okolona School board selected their preferred candidate Dr. Jerry Woods to be the next superintendent of the school district.

Officials held a town hall meeting Sunday afternoon at the Rockwell Auditorium.

The top 3 finalists in the running for Okolona’s School Superintendent position answered questions and community concerns in the town hall meeting. In the end, Board members decided to select, Dr. Jerry Woods as their favorite pick. Dr. Woods served as superintendent of 3 districts in Arkansas and knows what it takes to move a district forward.

“Involvement, Involvement, Involvement.I think that the involvement of the community stakeholders is key in us moving the Okolona Municipal Separate School District forward,” says Dr. Woods.

He also says supporting and retaining teachers is essential.

“Give them a safe and positive environment to deliver the curriculum. Secondly, I think it’s important that we go in and while salaries are not the most important thing, if we can create conditions that makes it move forward, that’s exactly what we want to be able to do,” says Dr. Woods.

The district came out from under state sanctions last summer, and with the new board of trustees established, they want the new school superintendent to get started right away.

It’s important for the new superintendent to begin work as soon as possible. There are some big decisions that are looming on the horizon and these decisions have to be made as soon as possible and not wait until the latter part of June or July,” says Conservator Dr. Mac Curlee.

The district failed 3 years ago and with things now looking up, Woods says he believes that under his watch, Okolona students will succeed.

“We have many classic examples of the rags to riches stories, where people from very humble beginnings have moved forward and I truly believe that our boys and girls here in Okolona can be president,” says Dr. Woods.

School officials say the board hopes to have a firm decision by Wednesday.