William Penn board authorizes negotiation of three-year contract for Dr. Eric J. Bicote; final approval deferred to March 24

The William Penn School District Board of Directors voted Feb. 24 to authorize negotiation of a three‑year contract with Dr. Eric J. Bicote and to return any completed agreement for final approval at the board's March 24, 2025 business meeting.

Board President Boykins read and moved the amendment to item C12 and called for the motion to authorize negotiations. The board then recorded a second and approved the motion by voice vote. The motion as read at the meeting: “Motion to authorize negotiation of a new 3 year contract with Dr. Eric J. Bicote to be completed for approval at 03/24/2025 business meeting.”

The vote followed public comment raising concern about timing and compensation while the district operates in a deficit. Public commenter Mashinda asked whether C12 meant the board would not discuss the contract tonight and urged clarity because “we're giving him a raise or reinstating his contract for 2 years and nobody got a raise. And we're in a deficit, that's a lot.” President Boykins told the meeting the board had amended the agenda to allow time to negotiate and would not conduct substantive discussion or final approval this evening: “we are amending, but we are not discussing that tonight … we have until 03/24/2025. It will be back on the agenda for next month's board business meeting … we are not tabling it. We are amending it, to negotiate and give ourselves more time, to discuss.”

No detailed contract terms, salary figures, or staffing impacts were presented during the meeting; the district directed that any completed contract would be brought forward at the March 24 business meeting for consideration. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally in names for the motion; the motion was approved by voice vote during the meeting.