The Hickman County School Board on Tuesday amended an interim director contract and set a timeline for a permanent director search. The board approved language to compensate the interim at the same rate as the superintendent and to preserve the interim’s right to return to her former administrative position when the interim term ends.

Board members said the interim appointment will run from Jan. 1, 2026, through May 31, 2026, with the new director to begin on June 1, 2026, if selected. During discussion, multiple members asked that language allowing termination “at any time” be removed or clarified; the amended motion narrowed the contract’s termination and reassignment language and adjusted the contract dates.

Unidentified Speaker 6 moved the amendment to (1) compensate the interim at the superintendent’s rate, (2) guarantee return rights to the incumbent administrative post at the end of the interim, and (3) finalize compensation details and the time frame. The motion was seconded and the board voted to pass the amendment.

Board leadership said compensation details would be completed and circulated to members before a final signature. The board also agreed on logistics for the director search: applications will be distributed and collected with an established deadline tied to the Jan. 12 meeting, and members will receive copies of applicants for review. Interviews are anticipated to be scheduled after applications are distributed; the board discussed using a Saturday for interviews if needed.

The board directed staff to amend the contract accordingly, send it back for a brief special-call meeting if necessary, and return to the board with finalized compensation numbers. No specific dollar amount for interim compensation was provided at the meeting; members said the exact figure would be emailed to the board when available.