In Jefferson Davis County, Ike Haynes was elected as superintendent when the state took over and was able to work with state officials, Perkins said.

"And they were successful. They didn't do that in Hazlehurst," Perkins said.

Jefferson Davis County schools were returned to local control in 2009 and now are labeled successful.

Haynes, who is still the district superintendent, said he would tell anyone who listens that school districts improve under local control and not state control.

Before the state took over, "we were in a deep rut," he said. "We had sunk to the bottom."

But where the situation got "convoluted," Haynes said, is that there weren't clear criteria for returning the district to local control.

"It's easy to know when to get in there, but it's kind of hard to know when to get out," he said.

Some at the Department of Education did not think the district was ready to to be released from conservatorship, Haynes said. But then-state Board of Education Chairman Bill Jones, as well as McClelland and board member Claude Hartley "really believed" in the district, Haynes said. The district has improved each year, he said.

Glenn Swann, who was conservator of the district, "understood that building my capacity as superintendent to kind of work himself out of a job would be the best situation for Jefferson Davis County," Haynes said.

Welcome back everyone!  Here is the district lesson plan template for you to utilize to write your lesson plans.  Remember effective instruction begins day one, August 8, 2011.

Ms. Harrien, JDCSD Literacy Coach

Mrs. Campbell, JDCSD Math Coach