In a closed-door discussion Monday evening, the Columbus Municipal School District board apparently told its interim superintendent what he needed to hear.
When trustees emerged from the 45-minute executive session of their special-call meeting at Brandon Central Services, Craig Chapman had accepted a contract removing the interim tag from his title.
The decision came five days after the board offered Chapman an 18-month contract to become the district’s next superintendent at an annual salary of $160,000. Chapman, previously the district’s assistant superintendent for operations, took on the interim superintendent role in June after Stanley Ellis resigned.
He has worked in the district for 10 years, serving stints as Columbus High School principal, assistant superintendent and once before as interim superintendent.
Chapman was one of two finalists in the search to replace Ellis, but after the other finalist withdrew in July, the board opted to keep Chapman as interim through the fall semester, then decide whether to offer him the job or reopen the search.
After Monday’s meeting, he acknowledged the contract length as the sticking point for accepting the superintendent’s job, but he told The Dispatch he was satisfied with the feedback the board provided during the executive session.
“Normally the superintendent has a contract that extends three or more years,” Chapman said. “But within 1 1/2 years, I was just trying to get an understanding of what those expectations were and what I need to put in place to make sure I meet those.”
One of Chapman’s priorities now is to provide the district stability, he said.
“As I shared with the board, I’m always here to try to do what I can to help CMSD, whatever role that would have been,” Chapman said.
Robert Smith, CMSD board president, said the board plans to support Chapman “100%.” He would not divulge why the board offered such a short contract term.
“That’s just what the board decided they wanted to do, 18 months,” Smith said. “… If he continues the progress (he has made in the district) the last (several) months, there’s no reason when the board evaluates him in 2027 … they would not extend his contract and probably look at increasing his salary. All that will be discussed.”
Smith believes Chapman’s tenure with the district will serve him well as superintendent. But he noted a leader is “only as effective as the people they surround themselves with.”
“The only thing we say now, ‘The ball is in your court. You’re not the interim anymore,’” Smith said.
When The Dispatch asked Smith if he had any concerns about current employees in administrative positions, he deferred.
“That’s going to be up to (Chapman) to do what he needs to do to make himself successful,” Smith said.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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