Candidate for Madison County Superintendent hasn't lived in the county

Madison County eyes residency of schools candidate


Independent says he's looking for home so he'll meet qualifications

Madison County election officials want the independent candidate for superintendent of education to prove he lives in the county.

"His residency is the question at hand," District 5 Election Commissioner Leroy Lacy said.

The commission, meeting last week, asked its attorney, Spence Flatgard, to write Patrick Henderson and ask him to show proof of Madison County residency no later than June. The commission is charged with determining whether independent candidates meet the qualifications to appear on the ballot.

One of the legal requirements for the post is being a "qualified elector," which means the candidate has to be a registered voter. That requires residing in Madison County for at least 30 days.

The question is whether Henderson is a resident of Madison County and whether he should be registered to vote there, Flatgard said.

Henderson, an assistant principal at Kosciusko High School, filed qualifying papers for the education post Feb. 14 but did not register to vote in Madison County until March 1, the qualifying deadline for candidates.

In his voter registration, he listed his address as Stumpbridge Road in Canton, the same as on his qualifying papers. That address is his father's.

Supes talk Flora Middle School Closure (Video) Part 2

Citzens respond at the Special meeting of the Madison County Board of Supervisors on January 28.

You can view Superintendent Mike Kent's statement in Part 1 HERE


Part 2 Madison County Board of Supervisors Jan 28, 2011 from DI Smith on Vimeo.

Supes talk Flora Middle School Closure (Video)

The video was provided by Supervisor DI Smith, and is 40 plus minutes long. But, if you're interested in getting information on why the school board feels closing Flora's Middle school is the only option, you should watch it.

Thanks to Supervisor Smith for his continued efforts to provide transparent government to Madison County residents.


Madison County Board of Supervisors Special Mtg East Flora Middle School Jan 28, 2011 from DI Smith on Vimeo.

Madison County Superintendent not to run for re-election

Kent said he had been weighing retirement.


"I've been struggling with it about a year," he said. "I am, by nature, a term limits guy. ... I think there is value in change and revitalization."

Kent, 59, has spent 38 years as a state educator, all of them in the Madison County School District. He was Madison Central High School's principal before being elected superintendent in 1999. Under his leadership, Madison County schools have consistently ranked among the top districts in the state.

During his tenure, Ridgeland High was built and two more bond issues were passed, the second funding construction of Germantown High, set to open in Gluckstadt this fall.

"We've gone from nine schools to 23. We've spent $300 million on new construction," he said.

The district serves nearly 12,000 students. "When I took office, we had about 7,000 students, and we had more kids in trailers than in bricks and mortar, but we're about to get that remedied." Kent said.

Kent also pointed to the district's achievement of unitary status, which "returned local control to the school district."

The district got out from under the U.S. Justice Department in 2006. A group of Madison County residents unsuccessfully challenged the change.

Board member Bill Grissett Jr. noted there has been no tax increase in the Madison County district in six years and attributed that to Kent's leadership.

Whoever is elected as the district's superintendent will need to follow Kent's lead "because what he's had in place has been working," Grissett said.

Deputy Superintendent Ronnie McGehee said Wed-nesday he plans to file qualifying papers to run for the job Friday, and Kent is endorsing him.


Read More: CL

New Principal at East Flora, other Madison County Schools invite students and parents to "Meet the Teachers"

Meet the Teachers


Students head back to classrooms next week

Madison County teachers and principals are counting down the days until school begins Aug. 11.

For Capucine Robinson, the new principal at East Flora Elementary, she's eagerly anticipating "meet the teachers" on Monday. "That's when I get to meet my little ones," she said.

Robinson comes to the K-5 school after two years as assistant principal at Velma Jackson High School, but she has 18 years of previous elementary experience in Jackson Public Schools. "I'm really, really excited about being at East Flora," she said.

When students come through the doors two days before actual classes begin, Robinson will be there with a big smile to greet them and start learning who her students are.

"Every child wants you to know their name," she said. "I'm giving myself a month to learn all their names."

Before early morning bells signal the start of learning next Wednesday, most county schools offer students a sneak peak at the year ahead with back to school nights and opportunities to meet teachers. Upcoming school schedules are:

• Ann Smith Elementary will host meet-the-teacher night Aug. 9, 4-6 p.m.
• Camden Elementary will hold an open house Aug. 10, 5-6 p.m.
• East Flora Elementary invites students and parents to meet the teachers Aug. 9, 4-6 p.m. On Aug. 19, the school will hold back-to-school night, starting at 6 p.m.
• East Flora Middle holds its back to school night Aug. 16 at 5:30 p.m.
• Germantown Middle School will allow students to pick up their class schedules 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 9. A week later on Aug. 16, the school hold back to school night starting at 5:30 p.m.
• Highland Elementary has scheduled meet-the-teacher for Tuesday, Aug. 10, 4-6 p.m. The come-and-go event offers students and parents the opportunity to meet their teachers for the school year and to visit their school rooms. School supplies may be delivered to classrooms then.
• Luther Branson Elementary on Aug. 26, 6-7:15 p.m., invites parents to come meet teachers and learn what's ahead for their children in the school year.
• Madison Avenue Elementary will hold its annual prayer walk 2-4 p.m. on Sunday. From 4-6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9, the kindergarten, first- and second-graders at the school can come meet their teachers for the coming year. Kindergarten will hold parent's night Aug. 12 at 5:30 p.m.
• Madison Avenue Upper Elementary students can find out who their teachers are and greet them Aug. 9, 4-6 pm. Back-to-school nights for parents will be at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 30- 31.
• Madison Central High School students will pick up their schedules this week: Seniors can go to the school today 9-11 a.m. while juniors can go 1-3 p.m. Sophomores can pick up schedules Friday, 9-11 a.m. Students who miss assigned times can get their schedules Aug. 10, 5:30 p.m. Also on Aug. 10 is new student orientation. Back-to-school night is set for Aug. 23 at 6:30 p.m.
• Madison Crossing Elementary posts class lists Aug. 8 at 4 p.m., Then on Monday from 4-6 p.m. students will be able to meet their teachers and bring school supplies. Parent orientation for all grades is set Aug. 30 at 6 p.m.
• Madison Middle School will hold open house for sixth-grade parents Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m. while open house for parents of students in the other two grades is Aug. 17 at 6:30 p.m.
• Madison Station Elementary students can meet their teachers Aug. 9, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Parent orientation for grades 3-5 is Aug. 30 and for grades K-2 is Sept. 2.
• Mannsdale Elementary students will learn their teachers this year Aug. 9, 4-6 p.m. Then at 6:30 p.m., there will be a new student reception in the cafeteria.
• Northeast Madison Middle will have its open house Aug. 18, 6-8 p.m.
• Olde Towne Middle will hold an open house on Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. in the gym.
• Ridgeland High School for the first time offers students an early look at their schedules. Students whose parents join the PTO for $20 can get a copy of class schedules today, 5-8 p.m. or Friday, 8:30-11 a.m.
• Rosa Scott students will have freshman orientation today, starting at 5 p.m. Also, students can pick up schedules 5-7 p.m. today. The parent prayer night follows at 7 p.m. Back to school night is Aug. 24.
• Velma Jackson High School holds open house Aug. 17 at 7 p.m.

Read the entire article at MCHerald