Print |
E-mail to a friend
NEWS
BOE votes to extend Smith's contract
HUNTINGTON -- The Cabell County School Board unanimously voted to extend Superintendent William Smith's contract through June 30, 2013.
But they tabled the discussion on salary until the next meeting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16. None of the board members disclosed why they chose to wait. But at least two said before they went into executive session that they weren't likely to vote on the entire contract.
Board member Bennie Thomas, who made the motion to extend the contract another four years, said money likely won't be an obstacle in securing Smith for another tenure.
"I'm real optimistic that we'll reach some deal that's comfortable for all of us," Thomas said. "We have a lot of great things going on (in the county). And his leadership is responsible for all of it. He's top notch."
Smith has spent his entire professional career in Cabell County and doesn't want to leave. He said he sees no reason why the two sides can't meet on a salary figure.
It's not known how much Smith is seeking, but his current contract, which expires next June 30, includes an annual salary of $104,000. It also includes travel expenses and a vehicle. The latter, Smith said, are pretty standard for such a position.
He did say that he is seeking a salary that is comparable to what other superintendents in similarly-sized counties are making. Cabell County, according enrollment data listed on the state department of education's Web site, is the fourth largest in West Virginia.
The Kanawha County Board of Education, which is the largest school system in the state with more than 28,000 students, voted last month to give its superintendent a 40 percent raise from $100,000 a year to $140,000 -- reaching $150,000 by the fourth year.
Berkeley County, the second largest in the state, pays its superintendent $127,000, with that contract also up next June. The data also shows that Putman County's superintendent, who oversees about 3,000 less students, currently makes about $15,000 more than Smith.
With Kanawha County finalizing a new deal, Smith currently ranks 14th in the state in pay.
There's no telling what the Cabell school board will do, but if Smith's recent evaluation is any indication, he will likely climb near the top of the state's best paid superintendents.
The 20-page evaluation was developed by the West Virginia School Board Association, and individual county boards have the right to pick and choose what to keep in. Four years ago, when the board looked at the evaluation, it decided that all of the categories and job descriptions were important.
There were some categories where all or a majority of the five board members felt Smith has exceeded the standards, including leading the board and others in celebrating student achievement; evidences an appreciation of community diversity by treating all people with respect, including those who find fault or are critical of the board; gains respect and support of the community for schools; relationship with the news media; plans for professional growth of all employees; and delegation of authority.
He also received high marks in the nine of the 16 sub-categories of "overall leadership of the school district as indicated by improvements in students achievement."
Most board members gave Smith was the typical "meets standards." But he received no marks for not meeting standards.
