King Gets Contract Extension And Raise

The Putnam County School Board voted unanimously Thursday to extend Corby King’s contract and give the director of school a pay raise.

King’s new annual salary moves to $125,000. Board Member Celeste Gammon said the board needed to get the director’s payrate closer to similar school systems across the state.

“We really felt like it was time to move the salary of the director of schools from where it has been,” Gammon said. “Yes, Mr. King has been exceptional this year and dealing with what he has had to deal with and we commend him for that. But the position needed to increase the salary for that. So I’m very thankful that we could increase that salary.”

But Gammon added Putnam County still ranks well below the state average. She said the average base salary for a director of school in Tennessee stands at $146,000. The average among middle Tennessee districts stands at $149,000.

“As you can tell, we still are behind in this area,” Gammon said. “We still need to grow.”

The contract extension gives King a deal through June, 2022. The board approved the contract and pay raise just after receiving its annual evaluation of King’s work. Board Attorney Dan Rader said King received an overall 4.12 grade, with four being above expectations.

The board rated King on 131 categories, according to Rader. King rated above four in the two overall areas graded by the school board, with four being above expectations. In addition, the board asked principals and administrators to grade King. In the 20 categories graded by that group, he ranked 4.07.

King’s evaluation included the seven-plus months since he took over as director in April.

“I want to say thank you, it is an honor to serve,” King said after the vote.