Spartan News is a presentation of Mason County Central School District in partnership with Mason County Press.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
SCOTTVILLE — After 27 years serving Mason County Central Schools, including the past 20 as superintendent, Jeff Mount is preparing to close a career defined not by personal accomplishments, but by a commitment to community, students and perseverance.
Mount’s final day as superintendent will be June 30, ending a tenure that saw the district navigate economic crises, a global pandemic, major facility improvements and changing educational landscapes while maintaining what he describes as a culture centered on students.
“It’s not about me, it’s always been about we,” Mount said. “We accomplished things, and sometimes it’s as simple as navigating through really difficult times.”
Mount announced his retirement earlier this year, concluding a career that began at MCC in 1999 when he was hired as middle school assistant principal. He later served as middle school principal before being appointed superintendent in 2006.
Incoming superintendent Jeff Tuka, left, with retiring superintendent Jeff Mount during last month’s commencement cermony.
A 1988 graduate of Greenville High School and a Central Michigan University graduate, Mount began his career teaching biology, chemistry and anatomy at Ludington High School. In 1999, while completing a master’s degree through Grand Valley State University, he accepted the opportunity to join Mason County Central.
“I loved the Mason County community,” Mount said. “I loved everything that it had to offer.”
His first years as superintendent proved challenging.
“When I took the position, I didn’t know that we were in a deficit position with our enrollment declining and no money in the bank,” he said. “We had to make some really tough decisions right out of the gate.”
Those challenges intensified during the the 2008-09 recession. Mount recalled learning in 2010 that state funding would be reduced by $470 per student, resulting in a $1.3 million budget cut, while declining enrollment created an additional $700,000 loss.
Despite layoffs, budget reductions and years without employee raises, Mount said the district remained focused on students.
The MCC Board of Education presented Mount with a retirement gift during its meeting Monday. Contributed photo.
“Our teachers and staff stepped up and understood that there wasn’t money for raises,” he said. “We all took zeros for five, six years in a row. Yet we stayed here. We stayed to fight through the problems and circumstances that were presented to us.”
Mount credits employees for helping preserve the district’s stability during those years.
“We were able to keep the integrity of our school system in check. We were able to keep our valued employees during the worst of times.”
Just as the district emerged from those financial difficulties, COVID-19 presented another unprecedented challenge.
“When there were basically four people on campus working, myself and the others in this office were trying to make sure we got food to our kids and our families and got some education, the best we could, to our kids and families,” Mount said.
He recalled bus drivers volunteering to deliver meals throughout the community.
“We didn’t ask the bus drivers,” he said. “They showed up here and said, ‘How can we help?’”
The experience reinforced what Mount considers one of Mason County Central’s defining strengths.
“When I look back at Mason County Central, we are a school community. We are a school family and we take care of each other in tough times.”
During Mount’s tenure, the district completed major capital projects, including improvements funded through the 2006 bond proposal that built the Upper Elementary School and the high school’s D Hall addition and competition gymnasium. Last year, voters approved a 2.5-mill bond renewal expected to generate $23.3 million for additional facility upgrades, safety improvements and infrastructure projects.
Mount said the recently approved bond is among the accomplishments he is most proud of.
“It will address our most important needs right now,” he said. “It isn’t providing us everything the district needs, but it certainly focuses on the top tier.”
Another source of pride has been the district’s connection to the broader Scottville community. He pointed specifically to the district’s relationship with the Scottville Area Senior Center and its support of senior meal programs.
“I love the fact that we do senior meals,” Mount said. “I love that connection to our community that most districts don’t have anything like that. At MCC we are all about providing education to the entire community, which is very symbolic in the fact that the district owns the senior center building and serves as its fiduciary agent.”
Mount oversaw the building of the upper elementary when he became superintendent.
He also highlighted the district’s adult education and Spartan Academy programs, which continue serving students beyond the traditional K-12 experience.
“Those people all have a story,” Mount said. “A story of overcoming tremendous adversity in their lives.”
Mount’s roots in the district deepened through his family. During his 2006 superintendent interview, a board member asked how long he intended to stay.
His answer was simple: at least until his youngest child graduated, which was 11 years. When he ends his tenure later this month, he will have served over two decades.
“My roots are in deep now,” he later told the board. “You’ll have a hard time getting rid of me.”
Both of his children graduated from Central.
“I was proud to know that my kids were MCC graduates,” he said.
Mount becomes just the sixth person to serve as superintendent of Mason County Central schools since its formation in 1955. The district’s history includes long-serving leaders such as Arnold O. Carlson, who served 33 years as superintendent (which included serving prior to MCC’s formation as the superintendent of the Scottville School District), and Richard Weaver, who served 19 years. Mount’s 20-year tenure places him among the district’s longest-serving leaders.
As he prepares to leave, Mount said he believes the district is well-positioned for the future.
“The culture of Mason County Central is in a great place,” he said. “It’s the best it’s been.”
He also expressed confidence in incoming Superintendent Jeff Tuka, who was recently selected by the board of education to lead the district beginning July 1. Tuka, a 1996 Mason County Central graduate, currently serves as high school principal and will become the first alumnus in district history to serve as superintendent. The Board of Education formalized Tuka’s contract during its regular meeting Monday.
“I believe it’ll be in great hands underneath Jeff Tuka’s leadership,” Mount said. “He’s here and he’s not going anywhere. He’s going to stay right here and take care of it.”
Tuka has served MCC since 2008 in several roles, including middle school principal, student assessment coordinator, student success specialist and eighth-grade social studies teacher before becoming high school principal in 2017.
While retirement will bring more time for salmon fishing, hunting and family, Mount said stepping away from students will be difficult.
“I will miss the kids,” he said. “If I’m having a bad day, I would just head to the elementaries and get free hugs.”
He plans to remain active, though he has not finalized what comes next.
“I know that I need to live with purpose,” he said.
For now, Mount is focused on gratitude.
“It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to serve this district,” he said when announcing his retirement. “I will always be proud to say that I am a Spartan and a part of this remarkable school community.”
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