Fayette Superintendent Jill Wiseman announced last week that she will retire at the end of the current academic year. She notified the district’s Board of Education during the closed session portion of its regular meeting on Wednesday, November 17.

On Monday the school board held a special meeting to officially kick off the search for a new superintendent. At that meeting board indicated it would begin its search within the district.

Wiseman has was named to the position in January 2019, shortly after then-superintendent Tamara Kimball announced her intent to retire after the 2018-19 school year. Clark Middle School principal Brent Doolin was named assistant superintendent.

Prior to being tapped as superintendent, Wiseman was curriculum director for the Fayette school district for 13 years. She continued in that role even as superintendent, while Doolin took on the task of managing buildings and facilities. She began her 25-year career in public education as a science teacher at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia and later taught science at Clark Middle School here.

Wiseman said the decision to retire was made out of a desire to spend more time with her family. Her daughter Natalie is a sophomore at New Franklin High School, and her son Hayden is a music education major at Mizzou.

“I really need to prioritize my family,” she said in an interview with this newspaper on Thursday. 

Wiseman said she has no immediate plans for life after leaving the district but intends to continue her efforts in the promotion of education. “I’ll probably think about that in May,” she said. “I am especially committed to supporting public education and although I will no longer specifically be at the district, I will continue to work towards supporting its mission and vision.

“I will continue to be an active member of this community,” she said. “A lot of the staff, and students, and families are like family to me.”

The conclusion of the upcoming spring semester will mark three years that Wiseman has been superintendent of the Fayette school district. Those three years were unconventional, to say the least. Her first year on the job culminated with the nationwide shutdown of schools due to the then-emerging COVID-19 pandemic.

When schools shut down, Fayette was one of the first to distribute meals to children. More than 50% of students within the district are on the free or reduced lunch list. School personnel prepared the meals on-site and distributed them at three area sites. In just the first three days, 597 meals were handed out.

“That’s kudos to our staff,” Wiseman recalled. “We have some great staff. They came together and made that happen. It was crazy.”

Wiseman spearheaded reopening plans for the district in the fall of 2020. Like in all schools, extra measures were taken to protect staff and students from contracting the virus. Fayette was able to keep schools open for the majority of the school year and enjoyed full athletic seasons.

While school is almost back to normal, she said the situation continues to evolve. In March the district held an on-site COVID-19 vaccination clinic for staff. Recently, booster shots were offered. At the time this story was published no students or staff have tested positive or are quarantined.

Wiseman is leaving the district in a financially strong position. The school board had previously set a fund balance goal at 20%, which it met under Wiseman’s leadership. As of the board’s August meeting, the fund balance was sitting around 45%, primarily due to substantial influxes of cash provided by governments in reaction to the pandemic. Much of those COVID funds will be spent by upgrading the district’s HVAC system and other facility needs.

“Financially we’re in a good place right now,” she said. “We’re going to get a substantial chunk of (the HVAC upgrades) done. That’s going to be huge.”

With these funds, the district will now be able to pay for such projects and other facility maintenance without the need to issue bonds. “This will free up some opportunities for bonds to address other facility needs,” Wiseman said. The outer walls of the middle school, the oldest building on campus, need to be tuckpointed and windows will need replacement. The ag building and greenhouse are also due for upgrades.

Wiseman explained the district’s bus situation is funded and on schedule. Fayette purchased a new bus prior to the current school year and is slated to replace another one next year.

“Bus-wise we’re looking good,” she said. “Of course, Mr. Beeler is outstanding. He really does a good job with maintaining them and making sure they’re in good shape.” The district annually receives a perfect score in bus inspections from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Wiseman also explained that one of her priorities was making sure the district increased staff salaries to stay competitive with other area schools. “It’s something we’re going to have to continue to focus on. It’s crucial.”

Wiseman said she would recommend to the board another raise in salaries before the end of the year.

As of June 30, 2022, Wiseman will be officially retired. She said that serving as the district’s superintendent has been an honor. “I have been deeply humbled by the support of the board and the community. I have developed lifelong friendships and commitment to growing, developing, and supporting the Fayette community and all of Howard County.”