Board extends superintendents contract three years, sets calendar and approves summer-school pay cut

The Buchanan County School Board voted to extend Superintendent Fletchers contract for three years via an addendum to the current contract after the personnel committee reviewed evaluations; the superintendent thanked the board and said she looks forward to the next three years.

The board approved the 02/2627 school-year calendar with the first day of school set for Aug. 21 (teachers to report earlier) to accommodate consolidation and Southern Gap occupancy. Administration said the division must provide 180 instructional days (990 clock hours) and recommended a final day for the 25/26 year of Friday, May 22, 2026, to meet required instructional hours.

The board approved graduation dates for each high school (Grundy and Hurley on Thursday, May 14; Council and Twin Valley on Friday, May 15) and approved summer school to run June 1June 19. Because state summer-school funding decreased (administration reported a cut of about $144,000), the board approved a lower pay rate for summer-school teachers at $150 per day (down from $200 last year) and $70 per day for bus drivers, cooks and paraprofessionals.

The board also ratified a personnel hire for Savannah Boyd as a behavior intervention specialist assigned to Riverview and approved staff participation in the Jobs for America Graduates national conference.

Representative quote: After the extension passed, the superintendent said, "Thank you very much. And I look forward to working the next 3 years."