By Rupert Howell

Retired Lafayette County High School principal Rodney Flowers will serve as Pope School interim principal following the resignation and retirement of current principal  Susan Vance.
South Panola School superintendent Tim Wilder made the recommendation at the school district’s trustee board’s monthly meeting Tuesday night.

Vance’s name was among those seeking retirement or resignation, but no discussion surrounded the motion to accept personnel recommendations.

Vance was included in an executive session where doors were closed to the press and public when a student’s parent made a request. The request was denied by trustees.
Rachel Pickett is Pope School’s assistant principal.

Wilder said he had previously worked with Flowers in two different school districts and stated that Flowers had also worked with Mike Foster, who served as SP’s interim superintendent prior to Wilder’s employment at South Panola.

Wilder told his trustee board, “I did not want to hire a permanent principal at this time as it would limit the applicant pool,” referring to the fact that potential candidates would be in the second month of yearly contract having already begun the school year.

“I do not feel students will suffer academically or I wouldn’t make this recommendation,” Wilder said assuredly while noting that Flowers’ contract will be for 100 working days which will put him past mid-term.

State retirees are not allowed to