Darlington County School District extends superintendent’s contract

The Darlington County School District Board of Education has extended Superintendent Dr. Rainey Knight’s contract after a satisfactory performance evaluation.
“I feel very honored that the board would allow me to continue to work with our principals and our teachers to improve the standing of our schools in our community,” Knight said in a telephone interview Monday. “Public schools are now faced with a greater challenge than we’ve ever had before. Standards are being raised and finances are being cut. I’m delighted to work with some good people in Darlington County and look forward to trying to continue to improve our schools.”
After an executive session held Nov. 19 to discuss Knight’s performance evaluation, the board voted to extend Knight’s contract to 2010 and raise her salary from $142,000 to $150,000.
The majority of the board rated Knight as exceeding expectations on most of the characteristics listed on her performance evaluation.
Each year, the board evaluates the superintendent’s performance and has the option to extend her contract. Knight’s original contract was scheduled to end in 2009.
She has been the superintendent since 1999.
Each member of the board completed a checklist of characteristics in the superintendent’s performance document. The board was able to give Knight an overall rating of unsatisfactory, needs improvement, meets expectations, exceeds expectations or superior in eight of the following areas: relationship with the board; performance as an educational leader; management skills and abilities; services to people served; fiscal management; personal and professional attributes; community and public relations; effective leadership of staff; and student learning and achievement.
According to the board’s evaluation summary, the board thinks it has a “capable and caring leader in Dr. Knight.”
“Dr. Knight is an excellent communicator who responds very quickly to issues that come to her attention,” the summary reads. “She has consistently provided the board with a balanced operational budget. She keeps the district focused on our mission to improve the quality of education here in Darlington County.
“The board believes that under her leadership we are experiencing progress in student achievement and accountability in our schools.”