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Board debate over early administrative contract renewals draws accusations of favoritism
Summary
Board members and community speakers clashed over the board’s decision to move exempt (administrative) contract renewals ahead of the normal March schedule; some said the timing is meant to retain leaders, while others called it 'favoritism.' The board amended the agenda and later approved personnel items after public comment.
The Little Miami Board of Education on Nov. 18 faced a heated discussion over the timing of contract renewals for exempt administrators after the board agenda was amended to include those renewals earlier than the district’s usual March practice. The item prompted questions from board members and public speakers about whether the move was intended to provide job security or to circumvent newly elected board members.
A board member objected to the timing, saying the practice "reeks of favoritism" and asked that the incoming board be given the opportunity to conduct renewals in March. The transcript records the criticism without identifying that speaker by full name in the record.
Superintendent (as identified in the superintendent's report portion of the meeting) explained the district’s rationale: early renewals have been used when there is turnover in district leadership or uncertainty with a superintendent change to prevent administrators from being at a hiring disadvantage during the February–March hiring season. The superintendent said the early action "doesn’t give them any more money, time, anything else. All it does is say, hey, you're doing a great job at Little Miami, and we want you to come back next year." (Superintendent remarks summarized from the Nov. 18 meeting.)
Community speakers were split. Teacher Brooke Daughtry, who identified herself as a second-grade teacher, urged the board to retain district leadership, saying, "I think we would be foolish to not rehire our leadership," and warned that uncertainty could prompt administrators to seek other jobs. Other board members said they understood the need to retain strong staff while also noting the practice is not common and questioned whether it warranted changing the district’s normal cycle.
The board held a roll-call vote on amending the agenda to address the personnel contracts; the motion to amend carried per the meeting roll call. After discussion and public comment, the board later considered personnel items during the meeting and recorded votes on those personnel actions.
What happens next: the personnel items were included on the meeting record and the board approved the personnel packet later in the session. Several attendees asked that future renewals respect incoming board members’ ability to review administrator performance before final decisions.
Sources: meeting transcript, Little Miami Board of Education meeting, Nov. 18, 2025.
