At the conclusion of a called meeting Tuesday evening, the Bulloch County Board of Education issued a statement of support for Superintendent Charles Wilson and indicated a desire to negotiate a multiyear contract.

This comes five months after the board, by a 5-1 vote after two members left, awarded Wilson a one-year contract extension and raise. In November, the two members who had left the meeting also indicated they would have voted “no.” One of them was District 2 member Mike Sparks. But Sparks, named 2018 chair by the members in January, made Tuesday’s statement on behalf of the board.

"We would like to make it public record that the Board of Education extends a unanimous vote of confidence to the superintendent and will begin deliberations to enter into a long-term contractual relationship,” Sparks said.

The Statesboro Herald had no reporter at the meeting, which was called for closed-door discussions before the open vote on personnel recommendations carried over from the previous Thursday’s lengthy regular session. But the newspaper was provided a draft of minutes from the meeting, which was held at Statesboro High School.

No official motion or vote was taken regarding Wilson or his contract. Official votes legally may occur only in open session. Besides those to enter and exit the executive, or closed, session, the only votes the board took before Sparks’ statement were to approve a long list of resignations and hiring recommendations, plus a few involuntary severances and retirements, and to renew other contracts, not including Wilson’s, which is handled separately from all the others.

“Now, in an executive session, you can survey the members, but there was no vote taken,” Sparks said in a phone interview Thursday. “We’re just making a statement. It was a public vote of confidence for the superintendent.”

The unofficial minutes also indicated that one of the members, District 8’s Maurice Hill, left before the end of the closed session, citing a previous appointment. Back on Nov. 16, Sparks, who was ill at the time, and Hill, who cited work-related needs, were the two members who had left, at different times, before the board voted on the one-year contract extension. In the days after, both said they would have voted “no.”

District 5 member Glennera Martin, who cast the one “no” in November, reportedly was present for Tuesday’s session.

‘Moving forward’

“Really that vote is in the past. I don’t think it has anything to do with what we said the other night,” Sparks said. “We’ve come to the conclusion that we’re going to back the superintendent, and any past votes to me are not important. We’re moving forward in total support of the superintendent.”

Asked if anything has changed, Sparks said: “We just think he’s doing a good job. He’s reaching the goals that we’ve set for him, and we’re implementing continuously the strategic plan, so we’re pleased with the way things are going.”

Last fall, the board also gave Wilson a revised set of directives for the 2017-2018 school year, calling for continued progress on school improvement plans, continued implementation of teaching teams called Professional Learning Communities, improvement of school climate and morale, further work toward a Guaranteed Viable Curriculum and continued improvement of diversity in employee recruitment.

Phoned Friday, Wilson said he had been pleasantly surprised by the statement of support. He was present when Sparks issued it.

“I’m very appreciative, actually, and I’m very encouraged,” Wilson said. “As I look back over the last six years, this board has been very instrumental in nurturing my growth as a leader and as a superintendent, and I’m very appreciative of that.

“But what I think is even probably even  more encouraging for me is that  this board has unanimously come together as a board and with me, the superintendent, as a true  governance  team,” he added.

Wilson said this provides stability for the school system.

“That stability and that commitment are really what this community has to have to provide our students what we owe them,” he said.

So far, discussions toward an extended contract have not begun, both he and Sparks said.

Last November’s extension gives Wilson a 2 percent raise, effective July 1, to an annual salary of $176,820.

Board member Maurice Hill did not reply Friday to an email, and a phone message left with his business’ answering service, for confirmation of whether he supported the statement Sparks issued.