Dorsey’s Contract Extended to 2015, Parmer Objects!

The Gilmer County Board of Education unanimously voted to extend Superintendent Bryan Dorsey’s contract tonight during its December meeting. Before the decision, though, board member-elect Jim Parmer objected after current Chair Kathy Jones requested a motion for the extension.

“I think you should wait,”

he said,

“I think that is a situation that the next board should be a part of.”

Chair Woman Jones, however, was not sympathetic.

“We are in control right now,”

she told Parmer,

“and I would like a motion”.

After the meeting, Dorsey told FYN the decision was based on his annual evaluation, which was completed last week, and that the board traditionally extends his contract in December.

“This has been a tradition that they have done for me as they have evaluated me this December and decided to extend my contract another year,”

he said.

Parmer, however, did not think the decision was fair.

“I tried to talk to Kathy, but she was very, very convictive,”

he said. He went on to say the move seemed like revenge, but he hoped it was not, adding he didn’t think that would be fair to the public.

“When you look at the votes that were voted basically against them, people were saying, ‘Hey! that’s not the right decision that you’re making.’”

he said referring to the July election when all three board members up for re-election were voted out of office.

“I just think it was the wrong decision,”

he said,

“that should have been a decision for the new board.”

Parmer, a life-long educator, explained that while it is typical for boards to extend contracts for another year, Dorsey already had a contract for two more years. Based on the situation in Gilmer County, he thought they should have waited.

Superintendent Dorsey’s contract will be extended until 2015.