Rockford School Board Gives Willis Extension and Raise

The Rockford School Board votes five to one to keep its Interim Superintendent on the payroll for another year.

The new contract will keep Willis employed all of next school year.

Eliminating the old month by month terms.

And the board approved giving Willis a pay raise as part of the deal.

"Thank you board for your vote of confidence."

Interim Superintendent Robert Willis will get an extra 25 thousand dollars next school year.

Increasing his salary from 185 thousand dollars per year to 220-thousand. The board vote was not unanimous. Lisa Jackson voted no. And Laura Powers said it was a difficult decision for her to make.

"It is a very conflicting decision fro me and I'm looking at it from the greater good."

In a press release, Board President Harmon Mitchell says the pay raise will cover retirement money Willis will lose for working a second year while drawing his teachers pension. And Mitchell pointed out the last three superintendents made as much or more as Willis.

Lavonne Sheffied earned 210 thousand dollars. Linda Hernandez made close to 230-thousand. And Dennis Thompson earned 214-thousand dollars. But unlike those previous superintendents, Willis will have to pay the district 15-thousand dollars for health insurance if he and his wife stay enrolled in the program.

"I can assure that we're going to do our very best as a leadership team to work with the school board, to help the community become prosperous, and provide opportunities for business to come and relocate here."

Willis says Rockford will start getting some wins from its schools under his continued leadership.

"I think what we're going to experience in the very near future are some of those wins that are going to start coming one after another."