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| Board approves contract for Powell |
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5/27/2011
By Afton Fairchild
Advocate staff writer
At its meeting Monday, the Montgomery County Board of Education finalized the superintendent process by approving a contract with Joshua Powell, authorizing Powell’s four-year term as the new superintendent of Montgomery County Schools. He is set to begin his duties July 1.
Powell was in attendance at the meeting and was asked in to the board’s closed session, which lasted more than an hour. The contract and approval of Powell as superintendent were formally OK’d following closed session.
Powell is currently the superintendent of Union County Schools, where he has been for three years. Prior to that, he was superintendent for the Cloverport Independent School District for two years.
He graduated from Berea College with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology, a master’s degree in clinical psychology and a rank 1 in counseling. He is currently in the process of completing his Ph.D. in educational leadership at the University of Louisville, a release from the school board following its initial announcement said.
According to Powell’s contract with the district, he will be making a salary of $140,000 a year with a $10,000 one-time relocation allowance for moving from Union County to Montgomery. Current Superintendent Daniel Freeman came to Montgomery County in 1998 from the Concord, N.C., School District. Upon his acceptance of the position of superintendent, he was awarded a $5,000 relocation allowance. Freeman’s salary as of the 2010-11 school year is $131,867.
The contract also stipulates that the superintendent will have an allowance of $250 per month for technology reimbursement, in consideration of cell phone service, computer equipment and access in addition to the normal computer equipment provided. Freeman said he did not receive any additional technology benefits.
Powell’s contract also states that he will be reimbursed for personal expenses incidental to travel with an itemized statement of proof. The board will provide, according to the contract, an allowance of $650 per month. Freeman was given a company automobile for community and school district use in his contract. Maintenance and fuel costs were paid for by the district.
An annuity of $5,000 per year of service is also included in the contract, along with 20 days of paid annual leave, whereas the superintendent may accumulate to a maximum of 60 days. Freeman’s contract did not outline an annuity payment. Freeman told the Advocate he gave up his life insurance plan, which was becoming expensive, in exchange for 10 days of paid leave time, which did not accumulate or roll-over.
Powell’s contract is set to expire or be renewed June 30, 2015, unless terminated sooner under the agreement of both Powell and the board.
In other business, the board:
• Heard from several concerned citizens regarding the current guidance counselor/teaching position held by Jon Mansfield at Montgomery County High School.
Since 1994, Mansfield has taught one or more sections of AP U.S. History in addition to his guidance counselor duties. He has been paid a stipend for his additional services.
Twelve people in attendance got up to speak on behalf of Mansfield, ranging from parents to former, current and prospective students. Speakers expressed their concerns regarding Mansfield’s payment for his services to the school.
Many who spoke on his behalf said they had heard Mansfield’s compensation referred to as “double dipping,” but all defended his ability and competence as a teacher, mentor and friend and argued his stipend not be taken away.
The board voted to maintain Mansfield in both positions and decided to not take away the stipend he is being allotted for the extra work.
• Heard from a concerned citizen regarding tuition-based preschool. Jennifer Summers spoke to the board concerning her child’s inability to return to preschool. Other parents in the audience discussed their similar concerns with the board after Summers was seated. After much discussion with Tammy McCarty, head start/preschool director at the Early Learning Center, the board decided to reinstate the program for one classroom (approximately 18 students) for 4-year-olds at an expense of $75 a week, a $25 increase from the current tuition. The new program will not include daycare.
If enough interest is generated for a second classroom, Board Vice Chair Kenney Gulley said the board would revisit the issue.
• Approved the 2011-12 tentative budget for a total of $41,422,257.44.
• Approved the elementary and middle schools math textbook plans, as well as the elementary reading and language arts textbook plans.
The board will meet again for its next session Thursday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the Montgomery County High School cafeteria.
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