Donald Oakes addresses the Board of Trustees after being named superintendent of the Vicksburg Warren School District at Thursday’s meeting. (The Vicksburg Post/MELANIE DUNCAN)

[04/20/01] Donald Oakes, in local public schools for 39 years, will see “interim” dropped from his title as superintendent of the Vicksburg Warren School District after a unanimous vote of the district’s trustees Wednesday night.

As about 50 spectators watched in the board’s small meeting room, the selection of Oakes culminated a year-long search that resulted in 18 applications for the job.

“I am very pleased,” said Oakes, who has been interim superintendent since Robert Pickett’s retirement last February. “This is something I wanted in the process.”

Since 1962, Oakes has been a teacher, a coach and assistant principal at Warren Central High, as well as two other high schools, Jett and Temple, which no longer operate. He has been principal at seven district schools, including the Center for Alternative Programs. Before becoming interim superintendent, he served as administrative assistant to Pickett.

“Oakes had the edge because he knows the framework, and he’s knowledgeable about the district’s academic programs,” said Board of Trustees President Zelmarine Murphy. “I see Oakes as firm, fair and consistent.”

Mike Ouzts, VWSD’s safe school coordinator, agreed.

“I am very happy they chose him,” Ouzts said. “He’s one of the best bosses a person can have because he’s very direct.”

At the end of last month, trustees chose three finalists for the superintendent position. In addition to Oakes, they were Dr. Carl Davis, superintendent of the Natchez-Adams School District, and Dr. Timothy Havard, assistant superintendent of Jackson County School District in Vancleave. The three Mississippi educators were interviewed Saturday by trustees and four people from the superintendent search committee, a 15-member group consisting of educators, parents and community leaders. The search committee exists under the district’s Strategic Plan, adopted by trustees in 1997.

Earlier this week, Davis decided to remain in Natchez, saying people in the district and the community didn’t want him to leave.

Oakes said there will be many issues to address during the next year, including accreditation, the curriculum and the budget.

“Dealing with the budget is not going to be fun, but we’ve got to protect our programs,” he said.

As interim superintendent, Oakes is being paid $85,000 annually. He will assume the superintendent title July 1, and a new salary will be negotiated by that date. The district, which serves Vicksburg and Warren County, includes 14 schools and about 600 teachers and other certified employees. It operates on a $53 million budget.

Trustees also:

Accepted a $1,000 donation from SECME-Georgia Institute of Technology to Vicksburg Junior High for enrichment activities in science, mathematics, engineering and technology.

Accepted a $50 donation from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to Dana Road Elementary to purchase library books in memory of Donna Chapman.

Accepted a $200 donation from River Region Health Systems to Warren Central High’s golf program for equipment.

Accepted a donation of four computers and four printers to Bowmar Elementary from Bowmar Elementary PTA. The computers are valued at $842 each, and the printers are valued at $99 each.

Accepted a donation of a digital wireless telephone to Warren Central Intermediate from Cellular South. The value of the phone is $99.

Approved out-of-state travel for Warren Central High’s FBLA state contest winners to the National FBLA Conference in Orlando, Fla., June 28nJuly 3.

Approved out-of-state travel for 55 students and two teachers from South Park Elementary to the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans May 11.

Approved out-of-state travel for about 30 Vicksburg High School students and three district teachers to the Destination Imagination Competition in Knoxville, Tenn., May 23-27.

Approved out-of-state travel for 25 Vicksburg Junior High students enrolled in French, one teacher and two chaperones to New Orleans May 26 to explore French culture.

Approved out-of-state travel for six members of Warren Central High’s history competition team and two faculty sponsors to College Park, Md., June 10-14 for the National History Day Competition.

Approved out-of-state travel for one member and the faculty sponsor of Warren Central High’s Beta Club to Cincinnati, Ohio, June 17-20 for the Beta Club National Convention.

Approved out-of-state travel for Jack Grogan, Jeanne Chandler, Sherrie Williams and Vikki Tubman to an “At-Risk Learners” conference in Panama City, Fla., July 16-19.

Approved participation of the district in a consortium with Hinds Community College and Rankin County to provide vocational and technical education programs.

Approved the deletion of surplus, lost or stolen items from the district’s fixed-asset inventory.

Approved the advertisement of bids for 40 single glass windows and 1,275 student desks.

Approved the recommendation for substitute employees for the remainder of the 2000-01 school year.

Approved the recommendation of employees for classified positions for the 2000-01 school year.

Approved the release from contract of certified employees for the 2000-01 school year.

Approved salary schedules for the 2001-02 school year.

Approved the 2001-02 school calendar.

Approved amendments to the 2000-01 budget.

Approved compensation for extra duties performed by certified staff.

Approved consideration of a uniform dress code proposal from Vicksburg Intermediate.

Approved changes to Warren Central Junior High’s existing uniform dress code.

Approved the hiring of an additional mechanic to implement a maintenance program for fleet vehicles used by the maintenance department.

Approved a change order for the Warren Junior High elevator.

Approved an amendment to agricultural lease on Sixteenth Section land.