A full-time conservator has been named for the Oktibbeha County School District, replacing interim conservator Jayne Sargent.
Margie Pulley will officially take the helm Jan. 7, the first day of school.
The district’s first meeting of the new year will be moved to Jan. 10 to give Pulley a few days to adjust to her new role.
Sargent made the announcement at a special-called meeting Monday.
Pulley retired in September from her post as superintendent for the Greenwood County Schools. She began her work at GCS in 1974 as a teacher, eventually moving up and serving her entire 40-year career there. Because Pulley retired during the school year, she had to wait a few months before taking a new position.
“She needed to be out of employment for a period of time before she started any new endeavor, and so the state department asked me to come in and hold on until she could come over,” Sargent said. “Interim conservators aren’t always brought in like I was — it was just part of the process this time.”
Sargent said she has known Pulley a number of years and has great faith that she will help the struggling district.
“She is a fine person, strong educator, and very capable lady,” Sargent said. “She knows school and understands teaching and learning and what it takes to find and keep good teachers. She’ll be a real benefit.”
The Dispatch reported in September that the state Board of Education voted unanimously during to declare a state of emergency in the OCSD. When this happens a state appointed conservator is brought in to analyze a district’s issues and coordinate with the state to remedy them.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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