Dexter Consolidated Schools board issues discharge notice for superintendent and appoints Molly Pierce as interim

The Dexter Consolidated Schools Board of Education voted to issue a notice of discharge to Superintendent Dr. Tom Graves and approved an interim superintendent contract for Molly Pierce, actions the board recorded after reconvening from executive session.

The chair moved, “I move that the Dexter Consolidated Board of Education issue a notice of discharge to doctor Tom Graves, which notice will be outlined in a message that is delivered following this meeting.” The motion was seconded and carried by roll call; the board recorded four votes in favor and one abstention. The notice of discharge will be delivered following the meeting, the board said.

Separately, a board member moved that the board “offer miss Molly Pierce a contract of interim superintendent effective Wednesday, February 19 through 06/30/2025 at a pro rata contract rate of a 140,000 per year.” The board approved that motion by unanimous roll-call vote. The board chair then said, “Motion passes.”

The interim contract specifies an effective date beginning Feb. 19 and ending June 30, 2025, and a pro‑rated annual salary of $140,000; the motion text and vote were the explicit actions recorded in the meeting transcript. The board did not provide additional detail in the recorded discussion about the terms beyond the dates and salary, and the transcript states the discharge notice will be outlined in a message delivered after the meeting.

During the meeting the chair opened a separate agenda item about pending or threatened litigation and indicated no action would be taken; none was. The meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m.

The transcript does not specify who seconded the motions by name and does not give a public statement from Dr. Tom Graves or Molly Pierce in the recorded segments.