WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderThe Rockford School board and Dr. Sheffield finalize a contract

The Rockford School board and Dr. Sheffield finalize a contract

By Laura Gibbs

ROCKFORD(WREX) - The Rockford School Board remains focused on getting superintendent finalist, Dr. LaVonne Sheffield to town for good. 13 News talked to some board members about contract talks.

After Dr. Sheffield's trip to Rockford the board immediately advised their lawyer to come up with a written agreement. That contract's the only item stopping board members from officially announcing a new superintendent.

Rockford School Board President Nancy Kalchbrenner states, "Our intent is to have that all finished so we can vote to approve that contract on April 14th."

That's just a few days after the board meets to go over any revisions Dr. Sheffield's requested be put in her contract. If both sides agree Dr. Sheffield's first day is July 1st. Kalchbrenner states, "We're looking at the length of the contract certainly, she has a desire and so do we to have this be a long-term relationship."

Once that document's signed Dr. Sheffield travels back and forth from Rockford to Baton Rouge, Louisiana working on a transition plan.  Rockford School Board Member Jeanne Westholder states, "The community has received her pretty well thus far so the proof is in the pudding if and when she's on the job how things will go."

With April 7th elections getting close this current board's pretty passionate about being the group to finalize this future step in District 205. Westholder says, "We do have an experienced board in place at this point and it would be best to have that contract negotiated prior to the transition of any new board members."

The votes from that April 7th election need to be certified so that means new school board members being sworn-in during the April 28th meeting.