Jim ScalesHamilton County school board members voted 6 to 3 this afternoon to buy out Superintendent Jim Scales' contract.
The board is also set to discuss an interim replacement tonight.
Scales last day at the central office will be June 10, but he will remain on the payroll until June 30. That's when he becomes vested in the Tennessee teacher retirement system.
The school system will write him a check for $202,000 for his base pay, plus $62,981 for his accrued vacation time and $16,200 for his sick time, and they will continue to pay his medical benefits through 2011.
Scales has said previously that contract buyout talks had been ongoing since February. He announced that he had agreed to the terms of the buyout May 10. State law requires 15 days' notice before the board can vote on buyout.
In addition to his base salary and leave reimbursement, Scales will receive $18,000 annually in retirement and the board will repay him for attorney's fees related to the buyout negotiations. The fees and insurance could be worth up to $20,000.
Board members Mike Evatt, Everett Fairchild, Joe Galloway, Linda Mosley, David Testerman and Rhonda Thurman voted for the buyout. Chip Baker, Jeffrey Wilson and George Ricks voted against the measure.
Contact staff writer Adam Crisp at acrisp@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6323. Follow him online: www.facebook.com/crispreporter and www.twitter.com/adam_crisp.