Board approves interim assistant superintendent

Marcia Austin is the new assistant to the superintendent in the interim as the search continues to fill the superintendent role.

However, if her boss, interim Superintendent Sonya Jackson doesn't get the full-time role, Austin will be back working in her former position as curriculum supervisor at student services and at her former salary.

During Tuesday's Hernando County School Board meeting, board members agreed to have Austin step into the position immediately. Her new salary is $96,832 - a $10,499 increase from her previous salary of $86,333.

Jackson said Austin's extensive education knowledge from working in student services will work well for her in the new position while also causing minimum impact to the district.

"There are just so many things going on in the district, that we didn't want to further impact our schools," Jackson said. "I could've gone through and selected a principal or someone else, but given Dr. Austin's experience as a former principal and from having worked under me before when I was her supervisor, she became an obvious choice."

While working as the interim superintendent, Jackson has also expressed interest in filling the position, although she hasn't yet submitted her application. The deadline is Friday.

If Jackson isn't selected for the position, she said she would go back to being the assistant superintendent and Austin back to curriculum supervisor.