IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION congratulating Dr. Paul James, Superintendent of Fort Osage School District, upon his retirement as Superintendent of the Fort Osage School District at the end of the school year in June 2002.
Intro
RESOLUTION 13832, September 24, 2001
INTRODUCED BY Terry Young, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, Fort Osage School Superintendent Paul James is retiring at the end of this school year after nearly 34 years in the field of education; and,
WHEREAS, during his nine years as superintendent of Fort Osage School District, Dr. Paul James has seen everything from passage of multi-million-dollar bond issues to rising test scores and an increase in college-bound graduates. But he says he's the proudest of seeing the increase in student achievement; and,
WHEREAS, student improvements during Dr. James' tenure include:
- Percent of students scoring above national average on ACT increased from 17.5% to 45%
- Percent of students taking ACT having taken core classes increased from 30-64%
- Percent of graduates enrolled in college increased from 26-50% in 1999
- Results from Terra Nova assessment increased in every subject grade level at every grade level in 1998-99
- Suspensions in and out of school decreased 40% in grades 7-12
- Dropout rate decreased from 6-8% range to 3.5 - 5%
- Drug and alcohol incidents down from a high of 39 to 14 in 1998-99
and,
WHEREAS, in a recent Examiner news interview about his retirement, Dr. James said: "One of the things we do is help kids dream bigger dreams, to think of doing things that they had never been exposed to. We continue to, and I feel good about that;" and,
WHEREAS, Board of Education President Carl Francka said Dr. James will be difficult to replace. "He has touched about every aspect of the school district, " Francka said. "He brought pride back to the district;" and,
WHEREAS, Fort Osage School District PTA Council President Lisa Martin said, "He puts effort into recognizing what has been done and the community that has helped him accomplish the school district's goals;" and,
WHEREAS, his contribution to the district led to his being named Missouri Superintendent of the Year for 2000; and,
WHEREAS, Dr. James received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1978 and his Master of Arts in 1971, both from Northeast Missouri State University; and his Specialist Degree in 1976 and Educational Doctorate in 1988, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia; and,
WHEREAS, he started his career as a teacher/coach at Paris High School, Paris, Missouri, in 1968. After one year, he then served as a Sp. 4th Class in the U.S. Army, spending 13 months in Vietnam and in 1971 he became a teacher/coach at Putnam County High School, Unionville, Missouri; and,
WHEREAS, before he became Superintendent of Schools for the Fort Osage R-I School District in 1993, he dedicated 14 years of his career to students in the Palmyra R-I School District, Palmyra, Missouri, serving as High School Principal from 1979-1982 and as Superintendent of Schools from 1982-1993; and,
WHEREAS, Dr. James said he plans to retire from the school district in June 2002, to do some other career yet to be chosen. "It will be something I can do that will be less demanding but yet offer a new challenge;" and,
WHEREAS, he also looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Linda, children Jeffery and Julie, and grandchildren Brittany and Tyler James; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri, that the Legislature congratulates Dr. Paul James upon his retirement and commends him for his dedication and service to the students in the Ft. Osage School District.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage by a majority of the Legislature.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________ ________________________________
County Counselor
Certificate of Passage
I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution # 13832 of September 24, 2001 was duly passed on __________September 27_________________, 2001 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas ________8_________ Nays ______0________
Abstaining ______0_______ Absent _____1_______
______________________ _________________________________
Date Mary Jo Brogoto, Clerk of Legislature