Board approves two-year contract, $275,000 salary for general counsel Justin Bailey

The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board on April 1 approved a two-year contract for General Counsel Justin Bailey, with an annual salary of $275,000 and retroactive pay effective Jan. 1 of the year, board negotiator Attorney Spence told members.

"It's a 2 year term. It pays annually a salary of $275,000. It is retroactive to January the first of this year," Spence said while summarizing the contract. The contract allows the board to unilaterally terminate the agreement; in that case the general counsel would receive the lesser of six months' pay or the balance of the contract.

Spence told the board he had reviewed U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage estimates and regional comparators before recommending the $275,000 salary. Board members asked for clarification about prior pay and benefits: counsel said the general counsel's prior salary was $198,000 per year and that the new contract reflects expanded duties and a negotiated market-based increase.

Members also asked about vacation and sick-leave treatment. Spence said the position accrues vacation up to the district policy limit (described in the meeting as 35 days) and that accrued sick days may be paid out at retirement according to district rules. Board member discussion clarified the payout for unilateral termination would be limited to the lesser of six months' pay or the remainder of the contract term.

Board member McKissick moved to accept the recommendation and Vice Chair Love seconded the motion. The roll-call vote recorded ayes from Board members McKissick, Garcia, Porter, Love, McKinney, Otey, Williams and Chair Coleman; the motion passed unanimously of those voting.

The board instructed staff to proceed with implementing the contracted terms and to post contract documents to BoardDocs.