By Powell Cobb and Brandon O’Connor
The Post-Searchlight

The Decatur County Board of Education has entered into contract with King-Cooper and Associates to begin the process of hiring a new superintendent. Dr. Fred Rayfield announced on Feb. 16 that he had been named the sole finalist for the same position in Union County.

King-Cooper previously assisted the Board when they made the decision to hire Rayfield in 2010. Sydney Cochran, the Chairman of the Board of Education, said that the decision was made to use King-Cooper again because of the professional way the search was handled last time.

According Cochran, the Board voted during a closed session on Feb. 25 to enter into the contract with King-Cooper.

“It’s a personnel thing,” Cochran said about the decision to vote in closed session. “We’ve done it before.”

The services of King-Cooper will cost the Board $6,500 and any lodging fees incurred during the search. The superintendent opening has been posted on the King-Cooper website with a closing date of April 1.

According to Cochran, the Board will meet with King-Cooper during a called meeting in the next couple of weeks to outline a set of criteria for potential candidates.

“In April we will sit down and start interviewing,” Cochran said. “Then hopefully by the end of April we will have someone.”

King-Cooper will assist with each step of the process and collect the applications from potential candidates.

According to Rayfield’s contract with the Union County Board of Education, signed Feb. 29, he will be employed for three years with an annual salary of $135,000.

Rayfield’s current salary with the Decatur County School System is $169,702.50.

Rayfield officially begins work with Union County June 1, 2016.