By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
The Jacksonville Education Corps will kick off the campaign in support of the upcoming millage election at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the community center. The meeting will be open to the public.
Renderings of the new high school will be unveiled for the first time.
If Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District patrons pass a 7.6-mill increase on Feb. 9, the district will build a new $60 million high school and fund other capital projects.
Superintendent Tony Wood is expected to recommend the hiring Mike Hudgeons as principal of the Jacksonville Middle School when the Jacksonville North Pulaski School Board meets for the first time in the new year at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Jacksonville City Hall, according to JNP chief of staff Phyllis Stewart.
That would make Hudgeons the first administrative hire for year one of the new district. Hudgeons is currently Jacksonville Middle School principal, but under the Pulaski County Special School District.
He was brought in last year by PCSSD Superintendent Jerry Guess in consultation with JNP interim superintendent Bobby Lester to help the middle school, which is in academic distress.
Eldon Bock, principal architect for WER Architects for the JNP building program, will update the board on planning for the high school, including space possibilities for an automotive repair program and the culinary arts program.
The board may vote on previously introduced sections of school board policy, and another section will be introduced for review, Stewart said.
Wood, who would like the board to consider outsourcing custodial and food service for the district, has learned that the district must apply to the state Board of Education first, according to Stewart.
If the state board approves the applications, then the JNP board will have the option to outsource those services if they wish. If the state board does not approve, outsourcing will not be an option, Stewart said.
