Rockdale Citizen

Samuel King

CONYERS -- Rockdale County Public Schools Superintendent Samuel King has a new contract through June 2014.

On Wednesday, it was announced that the Rockdale County Board of Education voted after executive session on Thursday, July 21, to amend King's contract to add one year, making it effective until June 30, 2014. School board member Don McKinney abstained from the vote, but Wednesday he would not comment as to why.

King has worked for six years as superintendent of RCPS.

His contract was entered into on July 22, 2009, and was effective until June 30, 2012. In June 2010, the school board approved an addendum to the contract to extend it until June 2013.

In his contract, King is allowed up to a maximum of 5 percent of his base salary, or $200,000, for performance compensation each year.

In June, the school board approved a motion finding that the superintendent met and exceeded his performance goals for the 2010-11 school year and is entitled to performance compensation under his contract. As a result, King earned about $9,000, after taxes, for his performance compensation this year.

King has spent more than 25 years in education teaching math and science at the elementary, middle and high school levels. RCPS failed to meet Adequate Yearly Progress for the 2010-11 school year, according to preliminary results, after meeting it for five consecutive years.

In addition to allowing for performance compensation, King's contract also allows for a minimum 5 percent cost of living increase; however, King was not given such an increase for the 2010-11 school year.

Under no circumstances can the board decrease his salary below the base salary, according to the contract.

The contract also states that King receives a board-supplied cellphone and vehicle, which includes insurance, maintenance and gas. He can use the vehicle to drive to and from home daily, but it cannot be used for "purely personal use."

It also calls for him to attend appropriate professional meetings and conferences at the local, state and national levels.

He also receives from the board employee retirement contributions, contributions through the employee alternative retirement plan and an employee's portion of the premium for health, dental and life insurance. He also is entitled to long-term disability.

The agreement may be terminated by the board for incompetency, insubordination, willful neglect of duties, immorality, violating state laws, noncompliance with school laws and regulations, noncompliance with board policies and regulations and any other good and sufficient cause, among other reasons.

The board reserves the right to terminate the contract without cause, but it must pay his salary for 12 months or to the end of the contracted term. The board also can call for suspension with pay or no tenure, according to the contract.

The contract term cannot be extended beyond three years.