Local & State Headlines

Lee extends contract for school chief

• Two new schools will be open in Lee County for the 2008-2009 term.

Susan McCord

LEESBURG — Lee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Larry Walters received a unanimous vote of confidence Monday when school officials added two years to his contract.

“Each of us would like to say how much we appreciate what you do,” said Sylvia Vann, chairwoman of the Lee Board of Education.

The board also adopted a Georgia School Boards Association position on a penalty imposed on school systems with lower millage rates during the brief regular meeting Monday.

Hired in 2003, Walters was awarded a three-year contract in July 2004 with a salary of $115,000, according to previous Herald reports. In June 2007, his contract was extended to June 2009 at a base pay of $129,865, the reports said. With two years added by a 5-0 vote Monday, Walters’ contract will expire in June 2011.

After a presentation by Lee County members of Georgia’s all-state choir, Walters updated members on the status of construction projects. The system will transfer Twin Oaks Elementary School to its nearly-complete new location on Old Smithville Road as soon as the school year ends, Walters said, and immediately begin transforming the former Twin Oaks into the Lee County High School Ninth Grade Campus, to be ready by the start of the 2008-2009 school year.

“They’re assuring us that it can be done,” Walters said.

The board also adopted plans for summer school, to be held June 2-27 for all grades.

“Summer school has become essential with the requirements of No Child Left Behind,” Walters said.

The federally-mandated testing includes Criterion- Referenced Competency Tests at the third, fifth and eighth grade levels that students must pass to be promoted.

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