Maury County School Board approves 4-year contract extension for superintendent

The Maury County School Board voted this week to extend current Superintendent Lisa Ventura's contract another four years to Feb. 28, 2028.

The board met Tuesday prior to Super Tuesday's primary election, which included multiple school board races, some of which were unopposed. Though no discussion was had of the races, or how they might affect Tuesday's vote with the current board.

District 10 board member Wayne Lindsey had requested Ventura's contract extension be added to Tuesday's agenda, saying "it's the right time" based on the superintendent's recent annual evaluation and feedback.

"We completed her yearly evaluation a few months ago, and looking at the results of that evaluation, Mrs. Ventura is very favorable," Lindsey said. "And feedback I get back from the district, from employees and parents is that morale is high in our district and we are on an upward trajectory, even though we have lots and lots of work still to do, but we are on a good path."

Ventura received an overall evaluation score of 3.5 out of 5.

Tuesday's meeting also included proposals for a salary increase for Ventura, first motioned by District 2 member Bettye Kinser, which would have extended Ventura's buyout, as stated in her contract, from six months to 12 months, as well as a cost of living raise in alignment with other classified employees.

"Since Mrs. Ventura has been superintendent, we've had a 10% raise and a 7%, which is probably all total of the seven years since I've been on the board combined," Kinser said. "She did not get any of those raises and actually makes less money than we paid the last two superintendents."

The motion, however, failed when brought to a vote. A second motion was made by District 11 member Jackson Carter, who supported the raise, but wanted to maintain the six-month buyout, per Ventura's contract.

Carter's motion, while not granting an automatic raise, makes Ventura eligible for one if a raise is approved for MCPS certified staff in the future. That motion passed.

School Board Chair Will Sims said after looking at the recent superintendent annual evaluation, he agreed that the majority were very complimentary of Ventura's work thus far as superintendent, but that there is "much more work to do" as a district.

"I do think that this extension is worthy at this time. We want to keep you around for four more years," Sims told Ventura at Tuesday's meeting, which was followed by an applause by board members and spectators in attendance.

After the vote, Ventura said she appreciated the contract extension and the continued work of the school board, with high hopes for the next four years moving forward.

"Thank you to the board for putting your trust in me. I am humbled and honored every day to lead the 13,000 kids and the 2,000 employees that we are blessed to have in Maury County Public Schools," Ventura said. "Again, I have been humbled by the support and the continued cheering on at Maury County Public Schools. I appreciate you more than words can say."

Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Maury school board votes to extend Ventura's contract 4 more years