By Christopher J. Jackson
In January, the Fayette County Board of Education voted 3-1 to renew the contract of Superintendent Chris Perkins for two years, commencing July 1.
Board president David Arritt was the lone opponent to the renewal, saying he wanted to wait and see if the state would intervene in the operation of the Fayette school system.
Thursday, the state Board of Education, under the recommendation of the Office of Education Performance Audits, did just that and moved that the superintendent’s position be vacated. Former Raleigh County Superintendent Dwight Dials will take over in Fayette County later this month.
Perkins’ contract states, under state code, that in the event of an intervention of the school system by the state, he will be placed in an administrative position for which he is suited — with all conditions of the contract binding.
Arritt said Thursday he felt the contract was rushed because of the possibility of the state stepping in.
“I told them to hold up to see if the state would take over, but they didn’t,” he said. “I think that’s probably the reason they voted so quick.”
Unless the state terminates his contract, Perkins will receive an annual salary of $93,000, with a $2,000 cost of living increase for the final year of the two-year agreement — the pay he would have received as superintendent.
It’s undetermined which administrative position Perkins would receive.
“I can’t speak of what I’m going to be doing at this time,” Perkins said Thursday. “I have to sit down and talk to the state superintendent (Steve Paine).
“I know Mr. Dials personally and have respect for him,” he continued. “I’ll be working to have a smooth transition to move the county forward.”
The board’s vice president, Leon Newman, said Perkins’ move could be a lateral.
“It’s not something that will punish him,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, he did an excellent job trying to pass the (school construction) bond and I’m grateful for him.”
Newman added he didn’t know whether Perkins’ salary would change.
Board member James Workman said he doesn’t know how the state intervention will affect Perkins’ contract, but he hopes he’ll remain in the system.
He added Perkins should receive the same pay regardless of the position.
“It wasn’t his fault they (state) took over,” he said.
Board member Steve Bush was absent when Perkins’ contract was renewed.
— E-mail: cjackson
@register-herald.com
