Margie Pulley, former superintendent for the Greenwood Public Schools, has been named conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District, where a state of emergency was declared by the state Board of Education in September.
Pulley, whose September retirement left Greenwood Public Schools without a permanent superintendent, was named conservator in Oktibbeha County on Wednesday. She is scheduled to begin her tenure Jan. 7, the first day of classes after the holiday break.
The district’s first meeting of the year was rescheduled for Jan. 10 to allow Pulley a few days to adjust to her new role.
A conservator is appointed by the state Board of Education when the governor declares a state of emergency in a district. A state of emergency is declared when a district is found to be in a state that jeopardizes student safety or well-being, is named a failing school district for more than two consecutive years, lacks appropriate financial resources or fails to meet minimum academic standards.
Pulley will replace Jayne Sargent, who has served as interim conservator since September. Sargent was previously superintendent of Jackson Public Schools.
Pulley, a native of the Browning community, began her work at Greenwood Public Schools in 1974 as a teacher, gradually moving up the ranks and becoming superintendent in 2009.
She could not be reached for comment this morning.
Pulley told the Starkville Daily News that this will be her first time serving as a school district’s conservator. Since the state is in control of the school district, she does not know how long her tenure in Obktibbeha will last.
She said she had not yet gotten the chance to familiarize herself with the district but looks forward to getting to know the strengths and weaknesses of its departments over the next two weeks.
A number of personnel changes will follow Pulley’s appointment, and she will be in charge of firing and hiring.
The Greenwood district improved its state rating under Pulley, moving from an “At Risk of Failing” designation to a “Successful” rating the year after she took the helm. She gave the school board just four days’ notice before stepping down.
• Contact Jeanie Riess at 581-7235 or jriess@gwcommonwealth.com.
