Oconee County board names Dr. Melissa Butler sole finalist for superintendent; formal vote after 14 days

The Oconee County Board of Education announced Sept. 2 that Dr. Melissa Butler of Catoosa County is the sole finalist to become superintendent of Oconee County Schools, and the board said it will wait 14 calendar days before holding an official employment vote.

The board opened the special session by approving the meeting agenda; the motion passed by a 5-0 vote. In a subsequent statement, the board said, "The Oconee County Board of Education is pleased to announce Dr. Melissa Butler from Catoosa County as the sole finalist for the position of superintendent of Oconee County Schools." The announcement did not record a final employment vote.

According to the board's statement, Dr. Butler currently serves as the deputy assistant superintendent of Catoosa County Public Schools and has held roles as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of secondary education and assistant superintendent. The board said it completed an "extensive process to identify the next superintendent of Oconee County Schools" and named Butler as the finalist whose "skills and values align with the district's mission of excellence, innovation, and community partnership."

Under the board's timeline, a minimum 14-calendar-day waiting period begins with the naming of a finalist; the district must wait that period before taking an official vote to employ the candidate. The brief special session recorded no questions from attendees and adjourned shortly after the announcement.

The board did not specify a date for the final employment vote or provide additional details about the selection process in the meeting record.