WINDSOR – While the search continues for a new Bertie County Public Schools superintendent, the contact of the system’s interim leader was scheduled to expire Saturday (June 30).

That expiration date has been extended.

During a special called meeting on Thursday to deal with personnel issues, the Bertie County Board of Education extended the contract of interim Superintendent Dr. Michael Priddy.

According to information released by Bertie Schools spokesperson Brent Todd, Dr. Priddy will remain with the school system as interim superintendent until a permanent superintendent is named.

Rickey Freeman, Bertie Board of Education chairman, said the superintendent search is going well and is within the original timeline set by the board.

“This is a vitally important decision for the board,” Freeman said, referencing the search for a new superintendent. “It is a decision we do not take lightly and we are being extremely thorough in our process of selecting a permanent superintendent.”

Speaking to the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald by telephone, Freeman said he was grateful that Dr. Priddy agreed to remain onboard while the school system’s elected leaders seek a permanent superintendent.

Freeman added that the contract extension was for three months, but it could be ended at any time during that period if a permanent superintendent is hired.

“I am delighted to be able to assist the board for a little longer until a permanent superintendent is named,” Dr. Priddy said.

Dr. Priddy, the former superintendent of Pitt County Schools, has been serving in the interim position since February 1. The contract entered into at that time called for Dr. Priddy to receive $11,000 per month to serve as interim superintendent.

He joined Bertie Public Schools on the heels of an emotionally-charged Jan. 23 meeting where, in front of a standing-room-only crowd, the Bertie Board of Education, in a 3-2 vote, terminated the contact of then superintendent Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart.

Dr. Collins-Hart signed a four-year contract, with an annual base salary of $122,500, with Bertie Schools on June 22, 2005. That contract stipulated that if the contract is terminated prior to its end date (June 30, 2009), the board must pay her for 12 months following termination.