(Posted Aug. 16, 2017)
By Linda Dillman, Staff Writer
When Jefferson Local administrator William Mullett first came to the school district over 17 years ago, he didn’t expect his tenure as superintendent to last close to two decades.
On Aug. 14, the school board extended his contract another five years until 2023, when his current agreement expires on July 31, 2018.
Meeting in executive session prior to the start of the regular meeting, the board and Mullett agreed to an annual salary of $129,000 and a $300 monthly auto allowance, in addition to the board picking up a 14 percent retirement contribution.
The package is the same as what Mullett received last year.
“I didn’t expect that I would still be here in the same district after all of these years,” said Mullett, who was hired by Jefferson Local in 2000 and spent more than seven years in the leadership position before retiring.
He was immediately rehired as a retiree in his former position, where he has continued to serve as superintendent for the last 10 years.
“All 10 levies that were on the ballot since I became superintendent have passed,” Mullett said with pride. “It’s been a great run. This school district is a great fit for me.”
Mullett started his career as an educator with Indian Valley Schools, where he served as a high school special education teacher and football/baseball coach. He then moved on to Tiffin City Schools as an assistant high school principal.
Before he took the superintendent’s position with Jefferson Local, he was with Sylvania City Schools as principal of a 1,600-student high school and then was promoted to assistant superintendent.
During regular presentations at the board meeting, Norwood Title I teacher Tami Hill and Principal Sue Barte updated board members on the school’s summer reading program held in cooperation with Hurt-Battelle Memorial Library.
“Last year, we started with a small program with 25 students,” Hill said. “This year, we went a little above and averaged 51 students. Our largest turnout was on a rainy Wednesday when we had 110 students.”
Students were treated to meals courtesy of local establishments and individuals, a cookout was held at Prairie Oaks Metro Park, and each child was given three books to add to their personal collection. Hill said $1,300 in food was donated to the summer program.
“Every community member we asked ponied up donations,” Hill said.
