Clements named interim superintendent
By LESTER MURRAY news2@kilgorenewsherald.com

At the regularly scheduled meeting of the Kilgore Independent School District board of trustees held last night, Jody Clements was named interim superintendent and KHS principal Bobby Wheely was moved into an adminstrative post at the district office.

Jerry Roberts, KISD superintendent for the past 14 years, was originally scheduled to retire June 1 and Clements had been selected to fill his position. But due to an illness, Roberts will not be able to perform his duties for the remainder of the school year so the board appointed Clements as interim superintendent until his contract begins in June.

Clements announced that Bobby Wheeley, Kilgore High School principal, will leave the high school and taking a position as director of administrative and student services beginning in July. "Just some of this duties will be UIL directives, the Upward Bound program, community liaison, heading a program for teacher of the year and being involved in the Foundation Fund," said Clements. "These are just a few of his duties; more will be added as the year progresses."

The opening at the high school will be posted both in and out of the district applications.

"Also KISD will be adding a new assistant principal position at Chandler Elementary School and Drenon Fite, assistant principal at Maude Laird Middle School, has resigned so that position will also have to be filled," said Clements.

The district is also looking for a new curriculum director. "This position is posted, but we are taking our time in filling it so to get the right person for the job," said Clements. "We hope to have the position filled by July."

Jack Clements, the former curriculum director, applied for the superintendent's position that went to Jody Clements.

In other business, the board approved a quit-claim deed for the Crim Theater. The old movie theater belonged to four taxing entities: Gregg County, the City of Kilgore, Kilgore College and KISD. Kilgore College has already approved the quit-claim deed and relinquished its rights to the property. KISD did so last night, which leaves the City of Kilgore and Gregg County as the two remaining owners of the theater.

The city intends to replace the roof on the theater and is asking other local governments to relinquish their interest in the property.

Clements said the new construction at the high school is going well. "The new 14-classroom addition is scheduled to be complete by May 19 and the multi-purpose (covered practice field) building is scheduled to be complete by the end of April," said Clements. "KISD is planning an open house for both of these facilities prior to school starting in August."

Clements also said the storm which occurred over the weekend has some effect on the district's facilities. "We lost a few roof tiles and a fence was blow down at the tennis courts, but nothing major."

In new projects being considered, Clements said Kilgore Heights is on the top of the list. "We need a new a covered dropoff area for the students," said Clements. "Also the bathrooms in the old annex need to be replaced and we are also looking at a covered and enclosed play area for the students."

Another campus that has not seen any work for ten years is Elder campus. "This campus averages 65 to 85 students a year and serves ten districts," said Clements. "The campus needs new heat and air, new windows and more and those costs are being looked into."

According to Clements, Elder has students from all grade levels and special education students. "We have six full time employees on this campus," said Clements.