Dr. Ed Nichols, right, will retire from being the Madison City Schools Superintendent of Education. Eric Terrell, left, will serve as the interim superintendent starting July 1. Photos by John Peck
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Eric Terrell selected to serve as interim MCS superintendent
MADISON – Eric Terrell was named interim superintendent Tuesday by the Madison City Board of Education to replace Dr. Ed Nichols when Nichols retires June 30.
It is familiar territory for Terrell, who has served as assistant superintendent for six years with Dr. Nichols, and for three years with Supt. Robby Parker.
“I can’t think of a better person to stand in when I walk out the door” said Dr. Nichols, who officially retires June 30.
Terrell’s selection was unanimous.
Terrell began his career with Madison City Schools in 2004, serving the next six years as a teacher in the alternative school and as a special education teacher at Discovery Middle and Liberty Middle.
He spent the next several years as an assistant principal at Bob Jones High School and James Clemens High School, then served as principal at Discovery Middle School from 2015-2017.
Terrell was named assistant superintendent in 2017 with Supt. Mr. Robby Parker, served as interim superintendent from February-June in 2020 during the COVID crisis, then assistant superintendent again when Dr. Ed Nichols took over as superintendent in June 2020.
“I look forward to what you’re doing,” Nichols said. “You’ve done it before, and the last time you did it, they talk about me having a tough time coming in in 2020, but it wasn’t anything compared to what you walked into. ” Schools were shut down shortly after due to Covid and Terrell helped lead the transition to technology resources, remote schooling, providing meal assistance to families and other accommodations.
Tuesday’s school board meeting also included a status summary of the school budget as Nichols approaches his retirement 14 days.
Laverne Williams, Chief School Financial Officer for MCS, gave a brief budget summary of budget trends under Dr. Nichols.
A slide presentation used a pig image representing lean years and robust years. Williams thanked Dr. Nichols for his financial stewardship. He reciprocated the credit to the financial management of staff and administrators.
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Terrell’s appointment to interim will span until a new superintendent is named. The application window is currently open and protocols allow for an interim superintendent to be eligible.
