JACKSON, Tenn-The Jackson-Madison County School Board has unanimously approved the contract for new superintendent Verna Ruffin, with one contingency: that her background check comes back clear.

Monday night, the board met in a specially called meeting that lasted only 15 minutes. They quickly approved the seven-page contract, which chairman David Clifft said Dr. Ruffin has accepted.

The only slow down with he birthday check was a wrong birthday on the original search, so the board has asked for another.

"We've had some stumbling blocks along the way but we've gotten over them, the search went well overall, it's ended well and I think everybody on the board is pleased with," said David Clifft, chairman, of the Jackson-Madison County School Board. "I have no second thoughts about who we've chosen, I'm completely content with it."  

Some of the highlights form the contract include, it effective from July 1 of this year until June 30, 2016, with an annual salary of $150,000 and an additional $700 per month for use of her personal car and 20 cents per mile reimbursement rate.  

She will receive up to $10,000 in moving expenses, as will up to two-month of temporary housing with a limit of $1,500 per month.

The contract also gives the board the ability to fire her without cause with a 60 day notice. However, should Dr. Ruffin decide to leave within the first two years of her contract, she must pay to recruit a new superintendent at a cost of up to $20,000.  

It's Official: Ruffin Signs Contract to be JMCSS Superintendent

Story Updated: Feb 23, 2013 at 11:06 AM CDT  )

JACKSON, Tenn. - The Jackson-Madison School System could possibly see some changes after Dr. Verna Ruffin takes her place as the new superintendent.  

"It's official now I can begin the business of preparing for superintendent of Jackson-Madison County, it felt really good," said Dr. Verna Ruffin.  

Dr. Ruffin will officially become superintendent on July 1. Until then, she will serve as a consultant and will be meeting with community members. 

"I plan on being in Jackson at least two weeks in March and begin to actually do that meeting with community officials and my soon to be staff July 1, central office getting to know more schools getting more in the community," said Dr. Ruffin.  

According to School Board Chairman David Clifft, Dr. Ruffin will be paid around $550 for every day she works before her official start date. Doctor Ruffin will also spend the next few months looking for a new place to live.  

Ruffin said she hopes to make Jackson-Madison County School System a premier school district for the State of Tennessee.

"I feel very proud of the fact I can have a lot of influence with our families and with community to move our district forward." 

Dr. Ruffin said her 22 year old daughter is deciding if she wants to relocate and will be visiting local colleges and universities in the next couple of months. Dr. Ruffin said her mother will be moving to Jackson with her. 

Although she hasn’t officially started as Jackson-Madison County Schools superintendent, Verna Ruffin has two principal positions to fill at Tigrett Middle and Jackson Central-Merry High before the 2013-14 school year. 

Ruffin has moved to Jackson now — a full month before her July 1 start date. Outgoing Superintendent Buddy White, who will retire on June 30, said finding new principals at the schools will be up to her. 

“It’s important that the next leaders of these schools is someone who can sustain the positive changes that have been made,” said Ruffin on Friday. “We don’t want to lose any momentum.” 

Ruffin plans to meet with the teaching staff at both schools before the selection process begins.  

Tigrett Principal Dexter Williams is leaving the school for Milan to work as the new boys basketball coach, supervisor of human resources and bus transportation. 

JCM Principal Eric Jones and two assistant principals — Roderick Tomlin and Teresa McDaniel — are leaving Jackson to work together in Huntsville, Ala., at Joe Johnson High School. The school has one remaining assistant principal, Michael Morris.

“Losing three administrators at the same time leaves an extreme void at the school,” Ruffin said. “That’s why the staff needs to be a part of the conversation before a selection is made.”  

JCM has had three different principals in the last eight years. 

In 2005, former Superintendent Roy Weaver moved Jerome Maclin and replaced him with Virginia Stackens-Crump.  

In 2009, Stackens-Crump was moved by former Superintendent Nancy Zambito, who opted to give the school a fresh start by removing the principal and requiring the existing staff to reapply for their jobs. At the time the school did make some academic progress but still was lagging in increasing its graduation rate. Zambito replaced Stackens-Crump with Jones, who at that time was an assistant principal at Liberty Technology Magnet High School. 

After spending four years at the school, which underwent a name change, a refocus on medical careers and increased graduation rate, Jones is headed out.  

Williams is Tigrett’s third principal over the past several years. He has been a part of the effort to improve the performance of the district’s middle schools.  

“A major focus will be to assure that we have top leadership at JCM and Tigrett,” Ruffin said.  

In addition to hiring priorities, Ruffin said she has met with elementary principals and is planning to meet with high school principals. She said another priority will be working within the district’s 2013-14 budget. 

“I really want to get a handle on how we’re using current funding and how that impacts the strategic plan in moving forward,” Ruffin said.