By a 3-2 vote, Hilldale Board of Education members agreed to keep D.B. Merrill as school superintendent for another three years.

The board approved the contract extension at its regular meeting on Monday night. The contract is good from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2012. Merrill said he retains his same rate of pay.

Board members Terri Breedlove, Eldon Schoonover and Missy Griffith voted for the contract extension. Rick Carbone and Jeff Sanders voted against the contract extension.

The vote came with no discussion during the public part of the meeting.

Merrill has been with the district for 18 years.

The board vote came after a private session of just more than two hours that also included three personnel matters and purchase of 10 acres of property west of the high school.

Schoonover is up for re-election on Feb. 10. His opponent in the election, Shawn Kuykendall, attended the meeting but had no comment on the vote.

Sanders was elected to the board last February.

The board also agreed to buy 10 acres north of Smith Ferry Road and east of Cherokee Street.

Merrill said the property is needed for future school growth.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at 918-684-2928 or Click Here to Send Email