THOMPSON DEFENDS CONTRACT EXTENSION

Cape Girardeau Board of Education President Ed Thompson says extending Superintendent Neyland Clark's contract for one year is "in the best interests of the school district."

Thompson Monday released a four-paragraph statement concerning Friday's assessment of Clark's work over the past year. At Friday's closed meeting the board voted 4-2 to extend Clark's contract for one year. He now has a three-year contract with the school district.

The statement concerning Friday's meeting doesn't say that a vote was taken or how board members voted on the extension.

It does say that many of Clark's troubles center around operation of the school business office. Business Manager Larry Dew has accepted a job as assistant superintendent in Poplar Bluff.

According to Thompson's statement, the board has instituted new business practices and redefined the role of business manager.

"We believe that those efforts coupled with Dr. Clark's educational vision will best serve the educational interests of the children in this district," Thompson wrote.

During the Friday meeting, board member Lyle Davis made a motion, seconded by Kathy Swan, to extend Clark's contract one year. Davis, Swan, Pat Ruopp and Thompson voted to extend the contract. Bob Fox and Steve Wright voted not to do so, and John Campbell left the meeting early and didn't vote.

Fox Sunday released information on the outcome of the meeting. He said voters had a right to know before today's school board election.

Campbell said Monday that when he left the meeting he had no idea a vote was planned. He left early because his daughter was in town from college and he wanted to spend time with her.

"Had I been there I would have probably argued not to take the vote," Campbell said. He said he is trying to decide how he would have voted on Clark's extension.

"I will say strongly it was not in the best interest of the school district for that vote to be taken Friday night," Campbell said. He said the decision "could very definitely be a factor in the election."

Two new school board members will be elected today. Thompson and Davis aren't seeking re-election.

Campbell thinks Clark will have a tough time working with the new board. "I think it would be in his best interests to respectfully decline," Campbell said.

Fox agreed that it would be in the best interest of the district if Clark would decline the extension.

Fox said he didn't know a vote was planned when he arrived for Friday's meeting.

After reading the statement Monday from Thompson, Fox said the phrase "in the best interests of the district" was not used during the discussion Friday night.

Fox was upset with Thompson's statement. "It was very, very incomplete," he said. "We need to be as open and honest as possible."

Fox requested a roll-call vote Friday. "That information is not in this release and it should be," he said.

Fox said he has heard Clark is seeking other employment and that the extension might help his job prospects.

Wright said: "I think some of the members were doing what's best for Dr. Clark. This is probably going to create havoc in the community again. I think the community has told us what they want. But the existing board chose to extend his contract."

Wright said the evaluation revealed that Clark had some good qualities and some negative ones. He didn't feel the overall evaluation warranted an extension.

Wright said that during the discussion a comment was made that even if the contract is extended Clark probably won't be in Cape Girardeau three more years. "Why extend it then?" Wright asked.

Fox and Wright said the vote could have been taken during an open meeting April 10. "Unless those people were afraid to make their comments before the public," Fox said.

New board members don't take office until the end of the April 10 meeting.

A telephone call to Ruopp wasn't returned Monday.

In written comments, Swan said the superintendent's evaluation is based on job performance and accomplishment of job targets.

"While the attitude and feelings of the community should be considered, they should not be the primary criteria in evaluating -- particularly when negative vocal groups tend to be in the minority," she wrote.

She added that over half the school districts in the state and nation grant one-year extensions. Not granting the extension, she said, is like giving notice of the intention to terminate employment.

She criticized Fox and Wright for speaking out about the decision. She said once a vote is taken, majority rules and "every board member is obligated to support the majority decision."

Attorney Diane Howard said Thompson asked her office last week to prepare an extension agreement prior to the board meeting Friday. She said the request was made without an indication of what action, if any, the board would take.

Last year the board voted in August during an open session to extend Clark's contract, with Fox and Wright voting no. The evaluation had been done earlier in closed session at the board's retreat in St. Louis.

Clark resigned as superintendent at Bullitt County, Ky., schools after a 1990 election changed the board to three members opposed to and two in favor of Clark. He resigned 29 days after the new board members took office. Clark had received a favorable evaluation prior to the election.

SCHOOL BOARD STATEMENTS:

Text of school board member Kathy Swan's comments

"Superintendent's Evaluation -- The superintendent's evaluation should and must be based on job performance and the accomplishment of job targets, as should any employee's evaluation. While the attitude and feelings of the community should be considered, they should not be the primary criteria in evaluating, particularly when negative vocal groups tend to be in the minority.

Extension of Contract -- Over 50 percent of the school districts in this state and nation grant one-year extensions to a superintendent's contract at the time of the evaluation, based on good job performance, and, therefore, a good evaluation. If this extension is not granted, it is the same as giving notice of the intention to terminate employment as in the private-business sector. We do not have to agree with this practice or like it -- it is simply the way it is done. I'm surprised that our two board members who voted against the extension are not knowledgeable of this practice since their spouses are teachers.

Community Attitude -- Our community has been misinformed as a result of the school district not doing a particularly good job of communicating with them about the district's needs and practices. This is not a new problem -- our current school board candidates think that they are the first ones to recognize this as a problem and vow to correct it. I, as well as current and past board members, are aware of such a problem. Better communication with the community needs to become a priority for this district.

Bob Fox and Steve Wright -- I am extremely disappointed in the lack of professionalism displayed by these two board members. Their blatant actions are in total disagreement with the certified teachings of proper board member behavior -- primarily, in supporting the majority decision of the board. A board member may disagree and argue at his pleasure at a meeting, but once the vote is taken, the majority rules and every board member is obligated to support the majority decision. They are also extremely close to violating the Missouri statutes when they discuss closed meeting proceedings and matters of confidentiality. Does it not seem coincidental that the two board members who voted "no" on the extension of the contract and have continued to vote "no" have spouses who are teachers in this district? Does it not also seem coincidental that the most negative school board candidate who also wants to "get rid of" the superintendent also has a spouse employed by the district? And finally, does it not also seem coincidental that Fox wanted the candidates to be aware of the extension so that they would have an opportunity to react?"

Kathy Swan

Text of Ed Thompson's news release about superintendent's contract

"RE: Action related to Superintendent Neyland Clark at the Special Meeting of the Board of Education, March 31, 1995.

A thorough assessment of the Superintendent's performance has been completed. A majority of the Board of Education have agreed that it is in the best interests of the district to extend Dr. Clark's contract for one year.

The school board considered Dr. Clark's overall performance as an administrator and educator, as well as, the recent problems in the business operations of the district. The School Board recognizes that many of the shortcomings in this area are due to the failure of the business office to use standard practices in the daily conduct of district affairs.

After a frank discussion about our expectations, Dr. Clark has acknowledged that the proper management of business operations in the district are ultimately his responsibility. However, the board also accepts responsibility for overseeing the proper management of the financial affairs of the district.

We all recognize the urgency to increase the public's confidence in the educational enterprise. To that end, the superintendent and the board have instituted new business practices, redefined the role of the business manager, and have rededicated ourselves to sound fiscal management. We believe that those efforts coupled with Dr. Clark's educational vision will best serve the educational interests of the children in this district."