Kennett principal offered superintendent position

KENNETT, Mo.--The Kennett Board of Education offered the district's open superintendent position to current Kennett Middle School Principal Ward H. Billings.

The board made the decision after an interview during the executive session of the board meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

Billings said he looks forward to the challenges of serving as superintendent and hopes he can demonstrate the professionalism and ethics needed for the position.

"I have been associated with the Kennett School District No. 39 in one capacity or another for nearly 50 years, to include 26 years as a staff member," Billings said. "I have a deep love for our school district and community, and an equally deep appreciation for the quality of education that our school district provides to our students. It is indeed one of the most significant honors of my life to have been offered the position of Superintendent of Schools for the KSD No. 39."

Although Billings said he will officially accept the position, the contract negotiations have yet to be finalized.

Also during executive session, the board approved the retirement letter of Melanie Timmons and the resignation letter of Mandy Tillery, both effective Dec. 18, 2009.

Prior to the executive session, the board heard a report on the district's annual audit from Don Collins of Robertson, Scherer, and Collins.

According to Collins, the district's has seen an decrease in assessed evaluation due to the economy and new standards for personal property valuation. Collins said he went back in the records for 10 years and never came across a drop in assessed evaluation.

Collins said the district moved funds around to make up the difference.

In other matters, the board:

* Approved setting the filing times for the 2010 School Board election from 8 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 15, to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010;

* Approved appointing Chris Wilson as the safety coordinator for the district;

* Approved allowing Chris Wilson to approve the substitute teacher list for the 2009-2010 school year;

* Approved the 2009 APR and MAP results as prepared by Rayanna Dalton, and;

* Approved the 2009-2010 District and Building Emergency Operations Plans as submitted by Deb Cook and Chris Wilson.