CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha County Board of Education began the process Tuesday of agreeing to a new contract with School Superintendent Paula Potter.
The board met in executive session and then announced Potter would be working on a draft of goals and objectives that will board will discuss at a future meeting.
“Through this discussion we’ve developed a timeline, what we’re going to do to set goals and objectives for Dr. Potter and attach those goals and objectives to a contract,” BOE President Ric Cavender said.
Potter, who has been in the Kanawha County school system in various roles for more than 30 years, started as superintendent last July.
Cavender said public education is the focus of unfair criticism. He said the Kanawha County BOE has confidence that Potter is the right person to lead the school system during these times.
“We believe in the system. We know it’s under attack. We also believe that Dr. Potter is poised to be in this leadership position to do the best to offset what we’re seeing at the state and national levels when it comes to public education,” Cavender said.
Kanawha County Schools, like other county school systems in the state, have seen a significant drop in student enrollment in recent years. The school board has voted to close middle schools and elementary schools in the past two years. Cavender said there will be difficulties ahead.
“We definitely believe the leadership we have in place now is extremely strong and can combat, for lack of a better term, what we see happening here,” Cavender said.
The school board will meet again in mid-February on the contract issue.