CCISD hires new principals for CCJHS and Clements/Parsons Elementary

By BRITTANY FHOLER

Cove Leader-Press

Two of the Copperas Cove Independent School District’s new principals were announced at the Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday evening. 

Jeffrey Shannon is the new principal for Copperas Cove Junior High School, and Jennifer Maples is the new principal for Clements/Parsons Elementary School. 

Shannon is taking the reins from CCJHS’s previous principal, Billy White, who has been principal since October 2020. Maples is taking the reins from CPE’s previous principal, Katherine Baney, who has been named CCISD’s Chief of Instructional Support. 

Both Shannon and Maples are CCHS alum and have been lifelong residents of Copperas Cove. 

Maples has been with the district since 2015. She began as a teacher at Clements/Parsons Elementary before becoming the Assistant Principal at House Creek Elementary. She grew up in Copperas Cove and attended elementary school, starting in kindergarten, at Hollie Parsons Elementary, back when Clements/Parsons was two separate schools. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the Art Institute of Austin and her master’s degree from the University of North Texas. 

During the Tuesday meeting, CCISD Superintendent Joe Burns had high praises for both Shannon and Maples. 

Burns explained that there were nine applicants for the position of principal at CPE: five from inside the district and four from outside. Burns added that “the cream rose to the top” with Maples. 

“We’re just very proud that a Copperas Cove product has made full circle and gets to come back and expect great things out of her out at CPE,” Burns said. 

Shannon has worked for the district for 16 years. He started at Copperas Cove Junior High as a coach and math teacher and then moved to Copperas Cove High School where he taught as a coach and math teacher before becoming the assistant principal of the high school. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Tarleton State University and his master’s degree from Lamar University. 

“This is another one that we’re very proud of,” Burns said. “We always want to be able, if possible, to grow our own, promote our own and keep our folks in house. We just like it when people understand the Cove way of doing things.”

The board also approved an increase in the amount that CCISD contributes for district employees’ healthcare coverage. With the increase of health insurance premium rates for 2021-2022, the employee only coverage, on the lowest plan, will have a monthly premium of $420. CCISD had been contributing $408 to fully cover the premium for employee only plans. With the new amount, the district will see a fiscal impact of $68,500 from local funds. 

The board also approved submitting an Intent to Apply Notice to the Texas Education Agency for applying for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) II Funds for the 2021-2022 school year for a total amount of $4,417,749. 

The board approved a Competitive Sealed Proposal (CSP) as the procurement method for the Copperas Cove High School Drainage Improvement Project and the Martin Walker Elementary Drainage Improvement Project. The district has been working with LAN Engineering on various drainage projects throughout the district, and LAN has completed the plans for the drainage improvement at Copperas Cove High School and Martin Walker Elementary School. The engineer’s Opinion of Probable Cost is $2,722,657.85 which includes a contingency of $247,514.35. With the board approval, advertising for this project will begin in July, and a contract will be brought to the board for approval at the August board meeting. 

The board also approved a Proposed Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment to the district’s construction manager at risk contract with BWC Education Group for the rehabilitation and additions at Martin Walker Elementary School. The GMP amendment, which establishes the price for Phase II of the construction project, is for $6,447,748. 

The board also approved the consent agenda, which included more than 50 new hires for the 2021-2022 school year.

During the recognition portion of the meeting, the board of trustees recognized CCHS Class of 2021 graduate Trent Davidson for being named both the District and Copperas Cove A.C.E.  of the Year.

The district also recognized the top three Convocation T-shirt Design finalists: LaDonna Sanders in third place, Jessica Bredwell in second place and Sara Sierra in first place. The designs had to incorporate the CCISD logo and the district’s theme for the 2021-2022 school year which is #CCISDIsHome. The winning design will be featured on staff shirts and Christmas ornaments.