Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
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Scott Kizner |
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer
The Martinsville School Board on Monday extended Superintendent Scott Kizner’s contract by one year in recognition of his job performance.
The contract extension does not include a pay increase. Kizner, who earns $147,000 a year, recently said he would not accept a raise unless one was given to all city school system employees.
Kizner’s contract had been set to expire June 30, 2012. Following a closed session called to discuss personnel matters, the board voted unanimously to extend the contract until June 30, 2013.
Board Chairman Jim Johnson said Kizner’s performance was not evaluated in the closed session. He said the next evaluation likely will occur by March 30.
Kizner said he knew the board planned to discuss his contract behind closed doors. But he was not present for the discussion and was told afterward that his contract had been extended, he said.
Under state law, a school superintendent’s contract cannot be longer than four years, Johnson said.
“We normally try to extend it (the superintendent’s contract) every year,” he said.
Kizner is “a great superintendent,” said Johnson. “He’s the perfect fit for our school system.”
Johnson said Kizner is “always looking for any opportunity to improve our schools” and is more visible in the community than past superintendents.
But “most importantly,” he said, Kizner “truly cares for the students.”
During a visit to Martinsville High School in October, Gov. Tim Kaine praised Kizner and called the city schools the “poster system for excellence” among school systems statewide in terms of helping students progress from mere competence — what he referred to as just passing the state Standards of Learning exams — to superiority in learning.
“That’s about as good of an evaluation as we can find,” Johnson said of the school board.
Kizner has been Martinsville’s school superintendent since January 2005. He previously spent five years as superintendent in Westerly, R.I.
“I appreciate the support” the school board has shown, Kizner said.
In the past two years, Kizner has been a finalist for superintendent jobs in Alexandria and Montgomery County. His interest in those jobs did not mean he was dissatisfied with Martinsville, and city school officials were aware he had applied for those jobs, he has said.
Johnson said that based on his conversations with Kizner, “I think he is satisfied being here.”
However, Kizner is “one of the most qualified people” to lead any school system in Virginia, Johnson surmised, adding that “no one I’ve run into in my 18 years on the school board has had more information on state and federal policies,” as well as how to implement them successfully.
For that reason, “I’d be surprised if one day (eventually) he is not in state administration” at the Virginia Department of Education, he said.
But “we want to keep him (in Martinsville) as long as we can,” Johnson said.
Also Monday, the school board made two appointments following its closed session.
Pricie Mooney-Walker was appointed speech pathologist at Albert Harris Elementary School. Darryl Ramey was appointed assistant coach for junior varsity girls basketball at the high school. |
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