VIDALIA — The Concordia Parish School Board voted by a majority to extend Superintendent Whest Shirley’s contract during a special-called meeting Monday.

Shirley said by law, the superintendent’s contract may be extended up to four years or less.

Shirley’s existing contract for $98,000 per year ends Dec. 31, said board president Raymond Riley  — adding the board would decide at a later date whether any changes to the contract should be made.

“We only decided to vote on whether to keep him on so far and we haven’t decided to do anything yet with his contract,” Riley said after Monday’s meeting. “(Shirley) asked for a two and a half year extension.”

With all board members present, the motion to reinstate Shirley passed by 9-1 with Riley voting “no.”

“I just don’t feel that he is the person to lead our parish’s schools,” Riley said. “We are still stuck in the same situation we were in two years ago when we hired him and I don’t see him having the vision to lead our parish forward. … I would like to see our parish grow.

“We are not growing. We are steadily losing people and students. As superintendent, he has control of the staff. … Some of the things that need to be done are not being done because he wouldn’t make people do their job.”

In response, Shirley said he has a record of good standing with the school parish since he was hired as superintendent two years ago.

“I’ve had two years of good evaluations, school performance scores are up, and things are looking up,” Shirley said.

Shirley said in his first year as superintendent he has hired 13 administrators and four supervisors.

“I believe we have the right people in the right position,” Shirley said. “I am excited about the future of education in Concordia Parish.”

In other matters during Monday meeting, District 1A board member Fred Butcher made a motion to add 4A board member, Derrick Carson to the superintendent’s contract committee — which is comprised of the board president, the vice president John Bostic and superintendent Shirley.

Butcher’s motion passed by a vote of 9-1 pending legal review, with District 3A board member Rickey Raven voting “no.”