The County School Board, in a stormy session Thursday night, voted 5-4 for an early renewal of the contract of Supt. Jim Scales.

Board Vice Chairman Jeffery Wilson said it was "the right time and the right thing to do."

But several other board members questioned the timing shortly before a County School Board election involving several contested races.

Also voting in favor were School Board members Janice Boydston, Debra Matthews, Chip Baker and Joe Conner.

Opposed were Rhonda Thurman, Everett Fairchild, Chester Bankston and Chairman Kenny Smith.

The four-year term for Dr. Scales had been set to run out in 2010. Now it will extend to the end of June, 2012.

At the outset of the meeting, Ms. Thurman rose and asked that the contract item be removed from the agenda. Voting with her were Mr. Bankston and Mr. Smith.

Ms. Thurman said, "I still do not know who wrote this contract and negotiated it."

Mr. Conner, who is an attorney, said he did so after getting a request from Dr. Scales.

Mr. Wilson said the contract process was "open" and there was a 15-day notice to the media and other board members.

He said he called Chairman Smith about the item, and Mr. Smith asked that a second board member call to confirm the request. He said after that was done, Mr. Smith agreed to place it on the agenda.

Mr. Wilson said, "I believe that the correct process was used and it was above board."

He said the contract does not include a pay increase, though there is a small mileage increase.

Board attorney Scott Bennett said it is common for boards to approve new contracts for executives far ahead of the expiration date.

He said, "There is nothing inappropriate about this contract."

Mr. Fairchild said he would have preferred delaying consideration of the contract renewal for another year.

He said he had been disappointed in the performance of Dr. Scales, saying morale was not good and many teachers were leaving the system. He said there had been a failure to address school leadership problems.

Mr. Fairchild said relations with the media and public had deteriorated. He said they had been improved with the County Commission, but this issue would be harmful to that relationship.

Mr. Smith said he was satisfied with the work of Dr. Scales, saying he had the hardest job in the county. But he said it was too early to consider a contract renewal.

Ms. Thurman said she did not believe that Mr. Wilson had drawn up the press release or a five-page list of accomplishments of Dr. Scales. She went over the list, saying he should not claim credit for many of the items.

She said the communications office should have been busy helping honor a 41-year Lookout Valley teacher who recently won an award and notifying board members about a serious car accident suffered by Ann Bates of the superintendent's office instead of writing the Scales press release and list of accomplishments.