Superintendant of Webster County Schools, issued a letter of resignation

Dr. James Kemp

by Matt Hughes

J-E News Editor

At Monday night’s Webster County School Board meeting, Dr. James Kemp, superintendant of Webster County Schools, issued a letter of resignation to the board.

“I’ve been around 47 years, and you always know when it is the right time,” he told the board members. “I want to thank the board and the community for it’s support. It’s time for me to retire.”

Kemp has been the superintendant of Webster County schools for 12 years, a period during which many changes have effected Webster County students. Those include merging with the Providence School district and closing Slaughters Elementary.

He said that reaching that decision had been hard for everyone involved, but he added “It was the right decision at the right time.”

Kemp will step down from his position on December 16, 2013, the date of the next scheduled school board meeting. At that time it is expected that board chairman Jeff Pettit and vice chairman Mickey Dunbar will present the board with their selection of a interim superintendant who will cover day-to-day operations until a permanent superintendant can be hired.

He will remain with the district until June 14, 2014 as Executive Director of Special Projects. At that time he will officially retire. Under this new role he will be responsible for keeping the boad and the iterem superintendant abreast of developments with various projects going on around the district.

“Dr. Kemp, you’ve done some great things during your time here,” said board member Tim McCormick. “You have done a lot of good things for the school and community. I personally want to thank you. You have every reason in the world to be proud of what you’ve accomplished.”

Kemp’s departure only continues a series of upheavals in the district during the last year. Two long time board members, Chairman James Nance and board member E. Carolyn Tucker, failed to win re-election last November, and a third board member, Steve Henry did not run for re-election.

Henry’s replacement, David Higgins, then resigned his position in August. He was replaced by former Providence board president Venita Murphy in October.