Applicants sought to fill vacant seat

The Pulaski County Special School District is seeking a deputy superintendent after allowing the position to remain unfilled for a year.

Superintendent Jerry Guess said the position was left vacant last year after Deputy Superintendent Laura Bednar resigned to become the head of Baptist Prep Academy. It was the first year of the school district’s operation following the detachment of the new Jacksonville/ North Pulaski School District.

“We were dealing with the Jacksonville piece and how we were going to get through that. We all took on more duties,” Guess said about the year. “I think we need to go back to a more reasonable management system, and I think that means hiring a deputy who is charged with overseeing learning services.”

He noted that the district is moving to convert its high schools to schools of innovation offering concurrent college credit courses, expanding reading instruction and enhancing Advanced Placement course offerings.

“I think there is a need for somebody to oversee all that more effectively,” he said.

Currently, John Tackett is interim assistant superintendent for learning services/director of secondary education and Janice Warren is assistant superintendent for equity and pupil services/director of elementary education.

Guess said it is his intention to no longer have assistant superintendents. Besides the deputy superintendent, administrators in learning services will include a director of elementary education and a director of secondary education.