Manatee County School Board approves interim contract for Mr. Chapman and sets expedited superintendent search

The Manatee County School Board voted 5-0 on May 29 to approve an amended interim superintendent supplemental contract for Mr. Chapman and to launch an expedited search for a permanent superintendent.

The contract approved by the board sets Mr. Chapman’s interim monthly supplement at $19,500, provides a $600 monthly vehicle allowance, up to $175 per month in cellular reimbursement, a $400 monthly expense account and a package of leave and retirement benefits continued from his district employment. The contract as amended includes a written term that runs to Jan. 6, 2026, or until the board installs another interim or permanent superintendent, whichever occurs first. The board’s vote to approve the amended contract was 5-0.

The board’s action followed extended discussion about the contract’s length and terms and about how the district will run the external search. Attorney Dye reviewed the amendment in open session and summarized the changes the board directed into the final draft. The chair read the items the board agreed to place in the contract: the Jan. 6, 2026 term date (subject to early termination on hire), the $19,500 monthly supplement, a $600 vehicle allowance, the $175 monthly cellular reimbursement cap, and a $400 monthly expense account. The board confirmed…