Smith County board votes to enter contract negotiations with Dr. Ash for director of schools

The Smith County School Board voted to authorize contract negotiations with Dr. Ash to fill the director of schools position, the board chair said during the meeting.

The board chair described a written-ballot selection process in which each board member marked a single choice; after a round of voting the chair moved that the district enter into a contract agreement with Dr. Ash. "So to accept this, I don't need a motion to accept that we enter into a contract agreement with doctor Ash," the chair said; another board member seconded the motion and the chair announced the motion passed.

Board members had interviewed multiple candidates and the chair praised the quality of applicants, noting that Dr. Lackey was not present because of a separate appointment. The chair said both leading candidates had interviewed well and that the board would seek to negotiate terms before ratifying any contract at a future meeting.

The action authorizes district staff to begin contract negotiations only; the transcript records no final signed contract at this meeting. The next procedural step, as stated by the chair, is to negotiate terms and return a contract for board approval and ratification at a subsequent public meeting.

The meeting record does not specify the exact timeline for negotiations or the proposed contract terms; those will be provided when the board considers a ratification vote.