Charleston County School Superintendent Nancy McGinley receives two-year contract extension to 2016

Charleston County School Superintendent Nancy McGinley wanted her employment contract to be aligned with the timeline for the district’s strategic plan, and the school board made that happen Monday night.

The county school board agreed 8-1 to extend McGinley’s contract two more years, which means it now ends December 2016. That’s also the final year of Vision 2016, the district’s five-year plan to improve student achievement.

“I’m very pleased with the support,” McGinley said. “I’ve spent 8½ years working to make this district as good as it possibly can be, and I’m pleased that those efforts have enabled me to gain the confidence of the board majority.”

McGinley said she wants to stay in Charleston, and the extension reinforces her commitment to the district.

“I don’t want to go to another district,” she said. “I’ve made that clear.”

McGinley’s most recent evaluation was in October, and she earned a score of 3.44, on a 5-point scale. That was considered meeting expectations and goals for improvement. She did not ask for a bonus or contract extension at that time.

If the board hadn’t taken any action on her contract, it would’ve automatically renewed until 2015. On Monday, the board voted to remove that automatic renewal clause from her contract, which means the board will have to vote on lengthening her contract in the future.

Chairwoman Cindy Bohn Coats said this extension doesn’t cost the district any extra money, but it allows the board to show its support for McGinley’s work.

“And it allows us to hold her more accountable for the results,” Coats said.

A lack of accountability was one of the reasons why board member Elizabeth Moffly said she voted against the additional two years.

Moffly, who is perhaps McGinley’s biggest critic on the board, said the board refuses to hold the superintendent responsible for her actions, such as instances of insubordination, disrespect and refusing to adhere to district policy.

“I’m not seeing the board address anything; I’m seeing the board ignore it,” she said.

In other business, the board:

Delayed until January a decision on offering solely Montessori classes at Hursey Elementary in North Charleston.

Delayed until January a decision on whether to approve a new charter school, Village Charter.

Agreed to award a contract to finish architectural design plans for the new Sullivan’s Island Elementary.

Received its annual financial audit and got the best opinion it could receive.

Reach Diette Courrégé Casey at @Diette on Twitter or 937-5546.