KINGSPORT — Options for pay and other potential contract changes for Superintendent Jeff Moorhouse are to be on the agenda for the June 14 Kingsport Board of Education meeting.
At the end of a called meeting Tuesday afternoon, the five-member board discussed the upcoming action item of Moorhouse’s compensation package.
Moorhouse’s contract was effective on Jan. 23, 2018, and later was extended by the board, but unless it is extended again, it will expire on March 21, 2024.
Upon repeated questioning at the end of the called meeting by member Todd Golden, BOE President Jim Welch said the contract could not be discussed then because dealing with it requires a 14-day public notice and the presence of the city attorney.
The board had neither Tuesday night. Moorhouse did not say anything during the discussion between Golden and Welch.
Welch also said the discussion was held after the meeting ended, because it could not legally be part of the meeting, although Golden said he wanted the discussion on the record. Welch prevailed.
The agenda items for the called meeting were approving an addition of a $90,000 change order to the J. Fred Johnson field lighting project at Dobyns-Bennett High School and approval of the 2022-23 budget proposal, the latter of which the Board of Mayor and Aldermen also must approve.
The board voted 5-0 to approve both items.
Moorhouse earlier this year said he did not want a contract extension, which Welch said was not an indication that Moorhouse was retiring. Welch also said pay change options would be presented at the BOE’s May 3 meeting, but that did not occur.
Welch said the board would get the options first, then City Attorney Mike Billingsley, before June 14.
Golden said Welch was not authorized to negotiate contract changes with Moorhouse. Welch emphasized that was the case and said the discussion was not to be part of the board minutes. Welch said he had already adjourned the meeting.
During the April 5 school board meeting, Welch told the board publicly that the lack of a vote on a contract extension and possible pay increase originally set for that meeting “should not be considered by anyone as a resignation (by Moorhouse) or termination by the board.â€
Welch said Moorhouse contacted him about the matter, and he passed it on to the board members before the April meeting.
