Marshall County Board of Education members unanimously approved the extension of Superintendent Dr. Shelby Haines’ contract for four more years during a special meeting held on Tuesday.

Board members evaluated Haines’ performance as “meeting or exceeding expectations” of the three main goals they set for the 2024-25 school year before approving her new contract.

Haines has served as superintendent since 2019, and her next four-year term will begin on July 1, 2025. Under the new contract, board members called for her to receive a 3% raise each year and an annual salary of approximately $165,000.

“The salary is based on her years of experience, degree and 1.6 multiplier of a teacher’s salary for a year-round employee,” board member Lori Kestner said.

Board Vice President Christie Robinson delivered the results of the board members’ evaluation before they approved Haines’ new contract. This evaluation would typically be performed in the summer, but West Virginia State Board of Education policy requires a superintendent performance evaluation be conducted before March 1 if the superintendent’s contract is set to expire on the ensuing June 30, as was the case for Haines’ contract.

Robinson said the board found Haines’ “desire to serve, compassion for education for all and genuine interest in our community” allowed her to lead Marshall County Schools “effectively, efficiently and honorably, now and into the future.”

Board President John Miller said they were “honored” to have Haines as superintendent and noted that she was a “wonderful communicator” within the community. He added the county’s assessment scores were able to “rebound” from the COVID-19 pandemic under Haines’ leadership.

“You know our community and can communicate so well with the public and our staff and students,” Miller said. “You always have our students and staff’s best interests at heart. You do what’s best for students first.”

Miller also commended Haines’ care for MCS staff members. He said the county’s Employee Assistance Program focused on MCS employees’ “needs and welfare.”

“We’re at a consensus in the feeling that we’re very fortunate to have you as our superintendent, and we hope that you will continue long after we’re not on the board anymore,” Miller said. “Thank you for the fine job you do. We’re honored to have you as our superintendent.”

Kestner noted that education today is “not just about teaching” but also a “big business,” and Haines served as the CEO of a “huge corporation.” She said with Haines at the helm, MCS was known outside the county.

“It’s easy to be proud of us as a group, but it’s so much easier when you have somebody like you at the helm,” Kesnter said to Haines. “It’s impressive when you look at how many people you manage, the budget you manage, the programs you manage and in some cases, you’re the transportation manager too. You make us very, very proud.”

Haines said she was “honored” to serve Marshall County. Regarding test score improvements following the COVID-19 pandemic, she said there was “always room to improve in that area.”

“I think we have a lot to be thankful for and have a lot going on, so we’ll continue to try to bring those scores up,” Haines said.

Haines also commended the work of board members, county office employees, teachers, custodians and all other county employees.

“You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with, and I have a lot of people who do a lot of great things,” Haines said to board members. “I’m thankful to have such good people around me, and I thank each of you.”