Springfield, Ozark schools renew superintendent contracts

Kevin Patterson

Last edited 3:55 p.m., Feb. 2, 2016

The Springfield and Ozark school boards voted in recent days to extend the contracts of their superintendents.

SPS
During its Jan. 26 executive session, the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education agreed to offer John Jungmann his second contract extension since he became the district head in July 2014.

A year ago, the board gave the green light for Jungmann to work through the 2017-18 academic year. The latest extension applies to the 2018-19 year, according to a news release.

Jungmann, who started with a base salary of $230,000, saw his base increase to $235,000 for the current year. His pay in the next two years would be determined when the board sets the district budgets, said SPS spokeswoman Teresa Bledsoe.

"We continue to be impressed by Jungmann's energetic leadership and his focus on offering students engaging, relevant and personal learning experiences," SPS board President Denise Fredrick said in the release. "The progress he has achieved in making SPS the best school district possible with available resources proves him to be the best person to lead."

In its performance evaluation, the board noted Jungmann’s initiative to provide nearly 30,000 digital tablets for students over three years; expand summer school programming; build student-centric learnings environments; and lobby on behalf of the district with legislators.

Ozark
The Ozark Board of Education last week voted unanimously to extend Kevin Patterson’s contract as superintendent through the 2018-19 school year.

Patterson originally was signed to a two-year contract beginning in the 2013-14 academic year with a salary of over $135,000. Ozark schools spokeswoman Casey Owens said Patterson’s 2015-16 salary is $143,370. She noted the superintendent’s base pay would not change unless the board also approves employee and staff raises.

The three-year extension approved last week represents the longest contract the board can offer a superintendent under Missouri law, according to a news release.

“It is evident that he encourages constant interaction and high performance within his staff and building administrators,” Ozark board President Patty Quessenberry said in the release. “Patterson has created an environment where his staff are empowered to make changes that will continually improve the performance of the students of Ozark while he continually praises the team that he leads."

Patterson, who currently is completing his 29th year with the district, is credited with leading Ozark during the 2014-15 school year to finish in the top 7 percent of Missouri schools with a graduation rate of 96.4 percent.

He also served as a board member on the Greater Ozarks Center for Advanced Professional Studies, a program that connects students with business leaders. Jungmann, too, is heavily involved in the initiative.