Looney’s contract requests rile county commissioners
School board gives thumbs down on most
For the second time in two weeks, Mike Looney’s response to the Williamson County Board of Education’s contract proposal elicited a reaction quite different to the one that endeared him in his initial interview.
Williamson County Commissioners were made aware of the Looney’s list of counter requests from the initial contract negotiations at their meeting Monday night.
Commission Chairman Houston Naron Jr. relayed information on the negotiations from School Board Chairman Pat Anderson, who was unable to attend the meeting.
Commissioner Clyde Lynch, representing District 3, said, “I have a problem with him getting a raise when no one else is getting a raise.”
Representing District 8, Commissioner Jack Walton requested that Anderson be invited to a joint meeting of the Commission’s Budget and Education Committees.
Naron told the commissioners that negotiations have been ongoing. Then referring to Looney’s request for a 5 percent performance stipend, Naron said, “I do not have a problem with offering a stipend if you do your job, but if you don’t do your job, let me decrease your salary by 5 percent.”
Ten members of the Williamson County Board of Education met a week ago in a special-called meeting prior to a work session to conduct unfinished business concerning the proposed contract for superintendent to be Mike Looney.
Members Bill Peach and Barry Watkins were not in attendance.
Looney was provided details of the Williamson County contract on Sept. 9 by board negotiator attorney Chuck Cagle — a contract that was loosely based on the contracts that have been provided to previous superintendents including most recently Dr. Rebecca Sharber. At the school board meeting Sept. 10, Cagle and Anderson provided both the contract and Looney's proposed changes to the full board.
Of the 10 items Looney proposed, the board flat out rejected five, offered changes to four and Looney took one off the table himself in a prior discussion. He was not present at the negotiation.
Looney proposed a four-year contract. The board, originally proposed a three-year contract, but amended it to three years and seven months, which would be the equivalent of a four-year contract, prorated for Looney's proposed Dec. 1 start date.
He proposed a 12-month notice for non-renewal of contract, but told Cagle he would consider six months, to which the board agreed to the latter.
The board had previously set $15,000 aside as a separate line item for moving expenses and held firm to that number. Looney's proposal was to include all reasonable moving expenses, reimbursement for temporary housing up to 90 days and reimbursement of travel for three trips (to the county) prior to Nov. 1.
The board also rejected Looney's proposal of a $700 per month vehicle stipend in lieu of use of a Williamson County-owned vehicle. Anderson told the board that Looney was concerned with the appearance of impropriety if he drove up to a school in a vehicle with government plates to pick up his children at school. County Finance Director Leslie Holman explained that if anyone inquired about that particular or like circumstances she would explain that Looney would be billed for his personal usage of the vehicle and that he would be paying taxes on the time as if it were a benefit. The county currently owns two Chevy Impalas with approximately 2,000 miles on each and one Saturn with about 20,000 miles on it.
Looney proposed an annual salary increase equal to that of licensed school employees and not less than 4 percent. The board decided to base annual increases on whatever the county employees are paid, which in recent years has been a maximum of 3 percent and in some years nothing, according to Holman.
The would be superintendent proposed a performance stipend equal to 5 percent of his current salary, which in the first year would have been equal to $8,400 based on the $168,000 salary offered. Board members voted no, with the idea that a performance bonus could be a talking point after performance goals are established. They also stated it was not a given and that discussions would be up to the sitting board at the time of decision.
The board voted to provide benefits, including health, dental and others in the same manner that current employees are provided. Looney had requested family benefits for his wife and children including orthodontic care up to $10,000. Currently employees receive maximum coverage of $1,000 in orthodontic care.
Looney proposed a $1 million term life insurance policy. The board agreed to a $100,000 policy, $70,000 more in coverage than current employees.
The final contended issue was legal terms regarding the potential payout if Looney was unilaterally terminated. Minor changes were made to the currently offered board proposal, where Looney would be paid up money equaling up to 24 months of his contract. Looney wanted a 10 percent premium, which the board turned down.
The item Looney removed without issue was the request that board offer "assistance to the extent possible with [his] spouse's employment."
Board member Janice Mills wanted to require that Looney reside in Williamson County.
Other issues were discussed and changes were made to the proposal provided by Williamson County. At the conclusion of the special-called meeting, Anderson and Cagle excused themselves to call Looney to discuss the changes.
Cagle has been out of town for much of this week and was expected to be unavailable to meet with the board regarding the changes proposed to Looney at this meeting. The tentative date to revisit this contract is the board's next meeting, Monday, Sept. 21. If an agreement is made prior to that date, Anderson said another special-called meeting will be held.
