School board approves director evaluation and a roughly $3,800 pay increase to honor her law degree

The Clay County Board of Education approved its annual evaluation of Director Monroe and voted to adjust her salary to recognize her law degree, increasing pay by roughly $3,783.

Board chair introduced the director's annual review and said the board’s scoring runs from 5 (exceeds expectations) to 1 (never meets expectations), and “overall, Miss Monroe received a 4.21 out of 5,” which the chair described as “consistently meets expectations.” The chair also noted Monroe has two years remaining on her current contract.

The board discussed options for adjusting compensation without altering the contract. The administration recommended aligning the director salary schedule with the staff salary schedule to honor additional years of experience, and separately to recognize Monroe’s law degree by placing her on the doctorate pay scale. A motion to honor the director’s law degree — described in the packet as moving her to the doctorate scale and increasing her pay by about $3,783 — was made and seconded.

During roll call the board recorded all ayes. The recorded roll call in favor listed: Mister Milton, Mister Ashlock, Miss Weir, Mister Webb, Mister Henson, Mister May, Mister Upton, Mister Sherrill and the presiding member (who also voted aye). The motion passed.

Board staff said the pay adjustment was recorded “primarily for audit purposes” so the board’s stated compensation and the contract review would be consistent in external evaluations.

The board did not change the length or other terms of Monroe’s contract at the meeting; the action recorded was limited to the salary-schedule adjustment to reflect her degree and experience.