4-year, $189,000 a year contract awaits Manatee County Schools Superintendent Diana Greene

BRADENTON -- A superintendent contract for Diana Greene through 2020 will be on the agenda for the Manatee County School Board at its next meeting.

Greene's starting salary for the four-year contract will be $189,955 per year, according to details hammered out at a school board workshop Tuesday.

Much of the board discussion focused on whether to change a provision on what it would take to fire the superintendent without cause -- meaning the superintendent did nothing wrong, but the board wanted a change.

It's not something board members expect to happen with Greene, but board Chairwoman Karen Carpenter said she didn't like the idea it would take only three of five board members to remove the superintendent.

"If she by some of her decisions, makes one of us, or two of us or three of us un

happy, that puts her employment at risk. I do not agree with that," Carpenter said.

Carpenter favored a stipulation to require a 4-to-1 vote or unanimous vote to remove the superintendent from office without cause.

Carpenter was shot down by other board members and Greene herself, who said she was confident in being able to work with the majority of the board.

Board member Bob Gause said if a superintendent lost the support of three board members then the superintendent would not be able to be an effective leader. Board Vice Chairman Charlie Kennedy said board decisions are often made by simple majority.

"A simple majority carries for everything else on the board. Why not here?" he said.

Greene said she was comfortable with the way it is written and asked Carpenter to keep it a simple majority.

"I have a very high level of accountability, and I'm fine with the majority," Greene said.

When first hired as superintendent last year, Greene negotiated a pay cut, taking less than her predecessor, Rick Mills, as a show of solidarity with other Manatee County School District employees. This year, Carpenter put in the $189,000 figure by calculating what Mills would have earned if he had stayed with the district.

Greene did not argue with the number this year. The contract also builds in performance pay for Greene based on how well she measures up to different metrics and standards the board will work with Greene to set.

Just as Mills' contract did, Greene's contract includes the option for a one-year extension each year if the board votes by June 1. If the board does not vote to extend the contract each year by June 1, it will automatically extend.

"Before every June 1, we reassess," Kennedy said.

If three board members wish to remove the superintendent before the contract expires, regardless of the extensions, they may do so and Greene would be entitled to up to 20 weeks compensation.

The finalized contract is expected to go before the board at its May 24 meeting.

Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter @MeghinDelaney.

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 11:56 PM with the headline "4-year, $189,000 a year contract awaits Manatee County Schools Superintendent Diana Greene ."