Senate Concurrent Resolution 707

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING MICHAEL THOMAS, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT FOR OPERATIONS WITH THE JACKSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, Michael Thomas is currently the Deputy Superintendent for Operations for Jackson Public Schools. He has served in this capacity since August 2002. In this position, he supervises the following functions: Facilities, Finance, Food Service, Graphic Arts, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Property Accounting, Risk Management, Security, and Transportation; and

WHEREAS, working under the belief that the entire organization has to be focused on the same goal, Michael and his team have been fully engaged in performance improvement. He and his staff have taken performance metrics to a whole new level. They have a monthly performance reporting process called OpStats/CapStats (Operations Statistics/Capital Projects Statistics), which is a monthly public reporting of each department's progress toward performance targets. Michael's office manages a budget of approximately $450 Million, a fleet of over 500 vehicles, 34,000 tracked assets, 96 buildings, 62 school sites, and over 36,000 meals served each day; and

WHEREAS, Michael has worked for the Jackson Municipal Separate Public School District for the past 16 years. He served four years as Budget Director, two years as Budget Director/Internal Auditor, four years as Chief Financial Officer, and currently Deputy Superintendent for Operations for 7-1/2 years. Prior to working at Jackson Public Schools, he worked three years in the Hazlehurst Municipal School District, as Business Administrator; and he served six years as an Auditor for the State Auditor's Office for the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Michael is also President and Chief Executive Officer of BANKK Management Systems, LLC, a consulting company providing the following services: Financial Review and Analysis; Budget Planning; Leadership Training; Project Management Training; Customer Service Training; Process Mapping and Improvement Training; Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Training; and Strategic Plan Development Training. His firm performed two contracts for the Baltimore City School District with a consortium under the leadership of Bonham Research in 2006 and 2007; and

WHEREAS, Michael is a graduate of Jackson State University with a Bachelor of Science in the School of Business. His professional memberships include: Fellow-Education Policy Fellowship Program; Member-Governmental Finance Officers Association; Member-Mississippi Association of School Business Officials; Member-Mississippi Association of School Superintendents; and Member-Council of Great City Schools' CFO and COO Divisions. He is involved in Leadership Jackson and the Word of Faith Church; and

WHEREAS, he is married to the former Shari Lynne Nabors and the couple have five children; and it is with pride that we note the accomplishments of this respected public servant:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and commend Michael Thomas, Deputy Superintendent for Operations with the Jackson Public School District, for his outstanding service and contributions to public education, and extend our best wishes to him and his family on the occasion of his retirement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Michael Thomas, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of the Jackson School District, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.