After five different motions tonight, the Cumberland County Board of Education decided not to give current Director of Schools Janet Graham a new contract. The vote was 5-4 with board members Paris, Inman, Brock, Hamby and Karge voting not to offer Graham a new contract.

Graham’s current contract will expire in June of 2020.

School board members Tony Brock said he had not received one comment in favor for  another contract for Graham. That statement was echoed by Jim Inman. Board member Josh Stone said he had people communicate to him in favor for as well as against a new contract for Graham. Stace Karge told the board she had only one in favor but had 37 emails sent to her against a new contract for Graham.

The first motion was in reference to remove the vote for the contract for the director of schools off the agenda where more time could be taken to consider it. That motion failed 5-4 with school board members Stone, Safdie, Boston, Netherton and Hamby against removing it from the agenda.

The second motion was made by Josh Stone for a new two-year contract for Graham. It received a second from Robbie Safdie. That motion did not pass by a vote of 5-4 with members Paris, Inman, Brock, Hamby and Karge voting against it.

The third motion was to postpone the vote on a new contract until the next meeting. That failed 5-4.

The fourth motion was made by Tom Netherton to give a one year contract to Graham. Josh Stone gave the motion a second. It too failed 5-4 with school board members Paris, Inman, Brock, Hamby and Karge voting against.

Stone suggested to move the director of schools contract discussion to the bottom of the agenda but by state law, that move could not be made. It had to remain near the start of the agenda.

The final and fifth motion is the one mentioned at the beginning of this story where the board voted 5-4 not to offer Graham a new contract.

The school board has a work session scheduled in January and will discuss how to proceed further before their meeting later in the month.