G. Trammell Is Named Interim Head of Schools

Members of the Jasper County School Board met in a called meeting last Thursday, and after a closed session agreed to hire Clarence Eugene “Gene” Trammell as interim superintendent.

Apparently the board used the services of the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) to narrow the selection for the interim appointment. The board plans to use GSBA’s assistance in the application process for the permanent replacement of Jay Brinson who quit last month. Mr. Brinson was working under a contract that went until June 30, 2010, but the board agreed to release him when he was hired as superintendent in his home town—Cordele in Crisp County.

At a previous meeting, board members agreed they would not attempt to hire a replacement for Mr. Brinson. until next year. Mr. Trammell will serve in the interim.
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Mr. Trammell lives in Jasper County and is retired from Baldwin County Schools where he served as superintendent for 12 years. Prior to that he served as Superintendent of Schools for Crawford County, for eight years. He was elected to two terms and appointed to one.

He worked in vocational agriculture in Crawford County from 1982 until 1987. He was a self employed dairy farmer in Worth County for many years before that. He also owned a deer processing operation and operated a large canning plant while teaching vocational agriculture.

He received his bachelor of science degree in animal science from the University of Georgia in 1969. In 1981 he got a BS in agricultural education, then earned his master of science and Eds. in agricultural education. In 1988 he received his MS and specialist certification in school administration.

During his tenure in Baldwin County, he managed application and grant writing which netted the system a great deal, and developed and implemented a foreign language distance learning project, among other accomplishments.

As of Thursday’s meeting, a salary for the position had not been set, apparently dependent upon negotiations with Mr. Trammell.

Also at last Thursday’s called meeting, the board approved the fiscal 2010 budget (see page 6). The budgets shows a beginning fund balance of $8,036,568, and an ending fund balance of $8,345,032.

Finance Director Kathy Thomason reviewed several aspects of the budget and the budgeting process, and said there is a reasonably good chance that the state will make further cuts to the budget during the year.

She and Mr. Brinson both expressed how difficult it is to allow for changes in funding after the budget is set.

A number of persons will receive raises as a result of the increase in minimum wage which takes place in July.
The board approved the persons to be released to fulfill the “reduction in force” plan approved in March. It included four paraprofessionals at Jasper County Primary School, one at Washington Park, one at the middle school and one at the high school. In addition, the board voted to release an office clerk at the high school.

Previously the board had taken action to do away with the middle and high school graduation coaches and the agricultural program.