WILMINGTON — As a work session got underway for the New Hanover County Schools Board of Education on Monday, one board member didn’t waste time to go into closed session to address making its current interim superintendent permanent.
READ MORE: School board extends contract of interim superintendent
Vice Chair Josie Barnhart interjected within the first few minutes as Chair Melissa Mason was entertaining a motion to approve the agenda.
“Madam Chair, I make a motion to amend the agenda to allow closed session in between the approval process and the superintendent search, with the purpose to name Dr. Barnes superintendent,” Barnhart said.
Pete Wilderboer seconded the motion and it passed unanimously 6-0; Judy Justice was absent at the beginning of the meeting. Newly elected board member David Perry asked if Justice, one of two Democrats on the board alongside newly elected Tim Merrick, had been notified the closed session was going to happen.
Mason responded: “Yes, to my knowledge she was.”
After the board emerged from closed session, Justice was present and the board agreed 7-0 to begin contract negotiations with Barnes to become the superintendent.
Barnes took over after Charles Foust was fired in a 5-0 vote during a July board meeting. The termination followed a staff presentation on concerning results of a district-wide climate survey, which indicated NHCS employees were most dissatisfied with the superintendent and school board.
Barnes was hired as interim superintendent in August and embarked on a 2,300-employee listening tour, with the goal to build back trust and help garner more support for staff. The board has expressed multiple times their pleasure with the work Barnes has conducted so far. One former board member even tried to make Barnes’ hire permanent in October before new board members were elected to have input.
On Monday, the school board also agreed to remove from the agenda progress of the district’s superintendent search.
Port City Daily reached out to all members to learn more about what prompted them to stop the search and begin the process of formally hiring Barnes. Merrick declined to comment.
“Because this was discussed and debated at length in closed session, I am not at liberty to discuss,” he wrote in an email.
The board convened for roughly an hour-and-a-half on Monday.
In an email to PCD, Barnhart praised Barnes for his prompt communication and manifesting a “collaborative environment” with the board.
“He has helped create that process and I will continue to work towards the best interest for our students and staff,” Barnhart wrote.
Barnes released through the district after Monday’s vote that he felt honored to gain the board’s trust.
“New Hanover County Schools is an incredible district with talented educators, dedicated staff, and amazing students. I look forward to working together to ensure every student receives a high-quality education and opportunities to succeed,” he wrote in a statement.
Pat Bradford told PCD Barnes has basically been on a prolonged interview for the job, having served the district since mid-year 2024.
“Our district needs stability and continuity,” she wrote. “Our climate survey from last year told us our staff wanted to be listened to, be valued and appreciated. For senior leadership to be present in schools. Dr. Barnes is always in the schools. He listens, he cares about the kids, the staff, parents and he’s a man of action. On day one, our staff took a shaky but deep breath and realized Dr. Barnes was at the helm, and everything was going to be okay. And it’s better than okay — it’s good.”
Bradford stated that currently top-of-mind is a transparent budget process, particularly working with Barnes, CFO Ashley Sutton and county commissioners. The finance committee meets on Friday.
“This budget process is going to be a whole different ball game,” she wrote, adding that securing Barnes is “a great step forward for New Hanover County Schools.”
Perry said he also was considering the budget with his vote.
“Superintendent searches are a costly and very time-consuming process,” he said. “We have a very tight budget right now and the board has a lot of work to do to continue to improve the school district. I would rather not expend the money and the time on a Superintendent search when I believe we already have the right person in this important position.”
Contract negotiations with Barnes — who was in closed session with the board ahead of their vote Monday — will likely take a week or so, Bradford estimated, in order to hash out details among lawyers.
Mason, who didn’t respond to PCD’s email, praised Barnes’ vision and dedication via a release from the schools district. She called his work “exceptional” at “fostering academic excellence, supporting educators, and building strong connections with the community.”
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