NEW HANOVER COUNTY — A school board member brought up on Tuesday the extension of interim Superintendent Chris Barnes’ contract through the end of the school year, two weeks after suggesting he become the permanent replacement.
READ MORE: Motion made to make Barnes permanent NHCS superintendent, agenda review gets political
Hugh McManus broached the subject after being vocally supportive of Barnes’ work in the district since the board fired Charles Foust in July.
“I just genuinely feel like the new board will decide who’s gonna be the superintendent, I hope, at the end of the school year,” said McManus, who is exiting the school board, along with Stephanie Walker and Stephanie Kraybill.
He added the district needs continued consistency through the end of the school year, as it continues forth working through its official hire.
New school board members will come onto the board in December, but upon elections results being canvassed this week — with outstanding ballots still being counted in tight races — it is still unofficial who they will be.
The school board voted 5-2 that Barnes will continue serving in his leadership capacity until June 2025.
McManus’ motion Tuesday was put forth a few weeks after he suggested Barnes become the permanent superintendent. The board has been in discussions on conducting a broad search; McManus’ motion, seconded by Josie Barnhart at October’s agenda review meeting, ultimately, was suggested for discussion in a closed session.
“He’s predictable, he’s visible, he’s accessible, and he listens,” McManus praised of Barnes on Tuesday. “He doesn’t have to agree, but he listens. And I think that’s the key to success and it’s just made a big difference.”
Barnhart pointed out there was no cutoff date in Barnes’ current contract and didn’t think the vote to extend it was necessary, to which Kraybill agreed. Barnhart added it was important to be mindful of the incoming board’s opinions as well.
“I do respect the work that Dr. Barnes is doing. I respect the communication that we’ve received. I think it’s been a good change of pace for everybody to be on the same page, and I value that,” Barnhart said. “I don’t want to see him go anywhere. But I also think that we need to have the new board come in and also have that same sentiment, so that it doesn’t become a tension point of contention with the newcomers on the board.”
Barnes was grateful for the vote of confidence and expressed a desire to see through the budget for the new school year; discussions will begin in early 2025. He also mentioned safety initiatives his team was working on that he desired to continue forth.
However, the interim superintendent also maintained the importance of being “fair” to new school board members with whom he hasn’t worked yet. He said he wanted to build up “the same level of trust.”
“I feel uncomfortable making a permanent decision without their input,” Barnes told the board Tuesday. “I do agree that this has been a great opportunity for the district. It’s been a great opportunity for me.”
Walker supported the move to extend his contract and said stability is “paramount” for the district. She recognized it has improved with Barnes at the helm and conceded the superintendent search would take a few months anyway, so didn’t see the harm in agreeing he remain in place until the end of spring.
“And to Dr. Barnes’ point about budget season,” Walker added, “we know what budget season is like. I personally would feel better about that. … [having] a leader in charge that can help us get through it.”
Kraybill also agreed that Barnes was steering the district in a more positive manner but worried waiting until the end of the school year to begin looking for a new superintendent would be a disservice.
“Superintendents leave at the end of the school year,” she said. “We should do the search prior to it ending the school year.”
“There was not a suggestion that we, they wouldn’t start [the search,]” Walker clarified.
The motion passed with Kraybill and Barnhart dissenting against adding a contract end date.
“I want what is best for the district just like all of you do,” Barnes said after the vote. “That may be me, that may not be me and I’m perfectly comfortable with the work that we are doing. I’m also perfectly comfortable if the board finds someone that can take the district in the direction it needs to.”
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