Board extends Dunsmore contract
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on July 12, 2016 1:46 PM
During its Monday evening meeting, the Wayne County Board of Education amended the superintendent's contract, extending it to four-year status, with some commenting on the recent shootings and tragedies around the country.
Dr. Michael Dunsmore, schools superintendent, was hired July 1, 2015, under a three-year contract and a salary of $145,000.
"We have made some changes," board chairman Chris West said, "One of the changes is the length of service. After June 30, he (completed) his first calendar year here so by the general statutes we are able to offer him a four-year contract."
The proposed "four-year deal" was a show of support to the schools leader and would be effective July 1.
"Dr. Dunsmore has put together a leadership team that has worked hard, very hard each of you, and he has made some difficult changes and he's made some needed changes. But there are still some issues," West said. "But we have the confidence in him and his leadership team to get us where we need to be."
One of those changes is the new regrouping plan, primarily in the central attendance area, but not limited to schools there, West said.
"The central attendance area is not the only area that has low-performing schools in Wayne County Public Schools," he said. "We have work to do in other places, too.
"And with all that's in front of him, it's kind of like a coach, when you hire a new coach at a college, he inherits somebody else's players so he needs four years to get his team in place to see what he's going to be able to do.
"He's got his team in place but we've got a lot of things in the works and we just want to give him a vote of confidence that we stand behind what he's doing and we want to give him the time for his programs to work and show us that the changes he's made and the decisions he's made and his leadership team are in the best interest of Wayne County Public Schools."
West did not elaborate on all of the specifics, except to say it was not limited to salary increases.
"It has a clause in the contract, we had a percentage increase each year. We reduced that percentage," he said. "Even though we extended his time period, we're not giving him as much percentage increase as we initially planned in his original contract."
He said afterward that the original agreement was to provide a 5 percent annual increase for the three years of the contract. The amendment reduced that to 3 percent. His base salary also became $167,500 but West said that did not reflect a $22,000 increase.
"(In 2015) $145,000 was the base salary. We were also paying him in-county and out-of-county traveling expenses," West explained. "The first year, he received almost $10,000 just for in-county traveling expenses."
West went on to say that WCPS is categorized as a Tier 4 school, with five tiers in the state, determined by the size of the county and the school system. There are 21 school systems with the Tier 4 designation.
"The average student population has like 16,000 students. We're at 19,000," he said. "The average superintendent salary is $181,000 so we're still well below the average."
Before putting the matter to a vote, West told he board he felt the amendment and salary adjustment were "warranted."
"I think that he still has a lot of work to do but I think we're on the right track," he said.
The motion passed 5-0. Board member Eddie Radford was absent. Board member Rick Pridgen did not vote, which counts as a "yes" vote.
During board comment, board member Dwight Cannon addressed the recent string of shootings around the country.
"I'm just going to echo my sentiments about the plight of the tensions that we have in the United States of America that directly and indirectly affect our community," he began. "I just want to state, and I'm not speaking on behalf of the board; these are my comments but I'm sure that knowing my colleagues, that they would agree that all lives matter, including black lives, white lives, Hispanic, policemen."
Cannon commended those in law enforcement roles, while extending sympathy to those mourning on both sides, law enforcement and civilians. The news reports hit too close to home, he pointed out.
"I'm just appalled really at the tragedies and we, you know, it could very well be one of our students involved in this or one of the students that we raised through the system, who chose to serve and protect our community," he said. "We're not here to take sides on any matter. I just think we need to acknowledge that every life is important and we need to instill within the smaller kids and the smaller children that we teach and who are really our focus, that you need to respect authority."
Principals and teachers are already keenly aware of this, he pointed out.
"Often you can tell what kind of respect a child has at home by the way they act in the classroom," he said. "So I'm appealing, especially our high schoolers, if you're stopped by a police officer, respect that position. Be polite, do what they say. You don't have to prove anything to anybody. They can look at you and tell what color you are. You don't have to remind them of that.
"And everybody, you don't have to be paranoid. I just think something ought to be said from this level and I use my platform to say that every life is important."
Board member Pat Burden seconded the sentiments.
Dunsmore said he also appreciated the eloquent remarks.
"I think we owe it to our children to teach them, as a community, as a nation, and here in Wayne County, to do our best to help our children be successful," he said.