JACKSON – Dr. Kathi Gibson was officially introduced as Superintendent of Northampton County Schools here Thursday afternoon.

In a called meeting of the Northampton County Board of Education, Dr. Gibson was introduced to staff and the community who were present at the meeting.

Board Chairwoman Catherine Moody welcomed Dr. Gibson to the district and then allowed the new superintendent to address the audience.

&uot;I am delighted to be here,&uot; Dr. Gibson said. &uot;I am very much motivated by the needs of students and I’m looking forward to getting started.&uot;

Dr. Gibson also expressed her appreciation to the board for allowing her to assume the role of superintendent.

&uot;I want to thank the Board, individually and collectively, for giving me the opportunity to serve,&uot; she said. &uot;I’ll give you 110 percent every day.&uot;

The new superintendent also said she was looking forward to working with the staff, many of whom she had already been working with during recent weeks. She called them &uot;wonderful people&uot; and said she was excited about working with them every day.

After the remarks of the incoming superintendent, the outgoing person asked for a moment to speak.

&uot;I want to say to Dr. Gibson that you fully have my support,&uot; Interim Superintendent J. Wendell Hall said. &uot;I will support you in whatever way I can as you enter your term as Superintendent of Northampton County Schools.

&uot;I wish you well,&uot; he continued. &uot;You have some good people here and I am sure you will be a success.&uot;

He also said he knew the road ahead may be difficult, but it would be worth it.

&uot;Change sometimes comes hard, but change is necessary to be successful,&uot; he said. &uot;I guess what I’m trying to say is I’m giving you my baby and I know you will take good care of this system.&uot;

After his remarks, Hall requested the Board formally vote to release him from the remaining days of his contract and end his employment as of 5:30 p.m. June 30.

Board member Grace Edwards made the motion to follow Hall’s request and added, &uot;We appreciate everything you’ve done here with us.

&uot;I know sometimes we might have been tough, but we thank you,&uot; she added.

Vice Chair Bill Little offered a second to the motion, adding his thanks for the work Hall had done.

Before calling for a vote, Moody said, &uot;We appreciate what you have done for Northampton County. You have always done the right thing and you cared about our children. We thank you.&uot;

Following a brief break to allow staff and board members to greet the new superintendent, the Board briefly discussed the final figures for Dr. Gibson’s contract.

Board member Charles Tyner spoke directly to Finance Committee Chair Roland Whitted, asking if $1,500 was the correct figure for Dr. Gibson’s moving expense. Whitted said it was.

Tyner said his figure totaled Dr. Gibson’s salary, including benefits, at $146,850. Whitted nodded in agreement.

With that done, Edwards moved for the Board to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Board member Barbara Stephenson and passed without objection.