JACKSON SCHOOL HIRES NEW ASSISTANT SUPER

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Education named Jackson native Jim Welker its new assistant superintendent for the coming school year.

Welker is serving in his second year as the director of adult and community education for Sikeston School District. He is a 1974 graduate of Jackson High School.

"I've always been interested in coming back to the Jackson School District. This is just a fantastic opportunity," he said.

Jackson schools Superintendent Ron Anderson said Welker will be responsible for the district's business and financial issues. He was selected from a field of 12 candidates who interviewed for the position. More than 25 applied.

"He comes with a strong background, both with working with people and some work with grants and programs," Anderson said. "He had a strong background we think will be of real benefit to our district."

Welker said he expects to work with school officials and the community to address some of the financial issues the district faces. He said he needed time to study the district's budget and financial plan before commenting on specific challenges the district faces.

School administrators project the district could be in financial jeopardy within three years unless a tax levy increase is passed. Jackson taxpayers currently pay the state-minimum of $2.75 per $100 assessed valuation.

The additional funding is needed to boost the district's fund reserves, which will dip below state-recommended levels next year. The district has outspent its revenue for the past two years as it tried to manage significant enrollment growth that has not been accompanied by increases in revenue.

"I think, obviously, there are some financial challenges that face the district," said Welker. "I know that there's a lot of pride in the school district, and I guess I'm confident that the school and community can work together to address those challenges."

Welker worked 10 years as a vocational agriculture teacher at Delta High School. He also was a supervisor of agricultural education for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for 10 years prior to accepting his current job in Sikeston.

He and his wife, Terri, live in Cape Girardeau. They have three children: Matthew, a freshman at Southeast Missouri State University, Justin, a junior at Central High School, and Emily, a third-grader at St. Vincent de Paul .