Floyd gets good job rating

MONCKS CORNER — Five of the nine Berkeley County School Board members gave Superintendent Chester Floyd a "commendable" evaluation Tuesday during an annual review of the district leader's job performance.

It was the closest decision in Floyd's nine-year tenure with the district. Last year two board members did not give Floyd the highest rating.

Individual board members' evaluations were not released.

Two of the three new members elected to office last year have largely criticized the district's spending and test scores.

The cumulative evaluation was considered satisfactory, which means Floyd will receive a 5 percent annual raise built into his contract, Chairman Frank Wright said. The contract runs through 2010.

"I felt this evaluation process was very positive, it was upbeat," Wright said. "It was a great evaluation. The majority of the board was in favor of what all the superintendent has done in the past year."

Floyd thanked his supporters on the board but gave the credit to the teachers, administrators and staff.

"I really appreciate the support of board members who made very positive comments and who, in my view, indicated they are pleased with the direction the school district is going," he said.

The 5 percent increase bumps Floyd's annual salary to $196,980.

The $187,600 he earned in 2006-2007 ranked him as the third-highest-paid superintendent in the state, according to the state Department of Education.

As of July 24, Greenville County's superintendent was paid the most at $196,672 and Charleston Superintendent Nancy McGinley was second with $188,371, not including bonuses and incentive pay.

Floyd has routinely received more-commendable ratings from the board on past evaluations than he did Tuesday night. His tenure has been marked by the construction of schools and the modernization of outdated school facilities.

Events started to take a turn in 2005 after the property tax reassessment caused tax increases of hundreds and thousands of dollars for residents.

A year later, some of his biggest supporters lost elections to candidates pledging fiscal conservatism and an end to what they called rubber-stamping of administrative proposals.

Terry Hardesty, one of the new school board members, declined Tuesday to air his complaints against Floyd but noted he addressed them with the superintendent during a 90-minute executive session prior to the meeting.

Wright said after the meeting that the four non-commendable votes were likely the result of two things: the new school board members and this being their first evaluation.

All the criticism was constructive, he said.

Floyd said it's understandable that the new members would bring more concerns that they want addressed. He said some members feel the district has grown too much too fast. His belief is that even though money won't bring quality education, quality education costs a lot of money.

Reach Andy Paras at (843) 745-5891 or at aparas@postandcourier.com.