YOUNGSTOWN — City Schools CEO Justin Jennings received high marks but did not see an improvement from last year in his overall evaluation score from the Academic Distress Commission.

In addition to giving Jennings an overall positive score in his evaluation, the ADC also voted to provide Jennings a $10,000 bonus, which is the most he could receive.

Jennings earns $190,000 per year.

The evaluation score of 3.22 on a 4.0-scale is the last he will receive from the ADC as the district’s CEO. In July, Jennings will become the district’s interim superintendent and a month later, he will be its full superintendent through 2027. Next year, as superintendent, Jennings’ evaluation will be done by the same board of education that recently hired him into his new job.

He will earn the same $190,000 a year as the new superintendent over the next three years as the district works to move from under academic distress.

In his ADC evaluation, Jennings received his highest grade in community relations. He received a 3.5 score as an instructional leader.

He received 3’s in the categories of relationship with the Academic Distress Commission, relationship with staff and managing the district’s finances.

It was noted that the district has been able to negotiate a teachers’ contract for the first time in more than a dozen years, and it is expected to end the year without a deficit for the third year in a row.

Last year, Jennings gave all of his bonus to district employees impacted by pandemic.

He will not do so this year, saying most of the bonus will be used to pay for travel expenses he is accumulating due to two family members having serious medical issues.

The ADC will continue to monitor and communicate with the district, but its meetings will be less frequent.

Jennings reiterated his goal in the next school year is the continuing improvement of grades earned by students.

In the meantime, the school board must hire a new permanent treasurer and a curriculum director.

rsmith@tribtoday.com