GALLIPOLIS — A number of administrative contracts were approved by the Gallipolis City Board of Education when it met Wednesday, but prior to the vote, board members addressed the difficulties in making decisions on personnel matters to the audience that packed the Gallia Academy High School library where the meeting was held.

Board President J.R. Sauer, as well as Vice President Robert Cornwell and member Dr. Timothy Kyger, agreed that while they disagreed in executive session discussions about some of the contracts, sometimes heatedly, the board also realized it has to do what’s best for the district.

“We as a board, and myself specifically, view this district as a business,” Sauer said. “We find common ground and we compromise.”

Sauer said “rumors and misinformation” about the contracts, perhaps fueled by the fact that personnel actions are confidential and cannot be discussed openly by the board, have a debilitating effect on operating that business.

“I have a feeling about rumors,” he said. “Rumors cause anxiety and stress, and cause morale problems that affect our finished product — the education of our kids.”

“Well said,” Cornwell added. “We’ve had some disagreements, but I think all five of us agree a divided board is detrimental to the district.”

Kyger noted that with changes in the state aid program as well as the expense of moving into new buildings in the near future, budgetary issues will put the board under some stress in the coming months.

But he voiced confidence in Superintendent Jack Payton and Treasurer Ellen Marple developing a workable spending plan that realizes “kids are first.”

The board then unanimously approved the contracts for:

Rick Bowman, Rio Grande Elementary principal, three years; Jolene Carter, assistant treasurer, three years; Lance Clifford, work study coordinator and special projects, one year, retirement effective in June 2010 with a waiver of resignation and health insurance benefits; James Craft, director of communications, three years; Mary Lynne Jones, director of special education, three years; Timothy Massie, assistant GAHS principal, three years; Helenlu Morgan, assistant principal at Washington Elementary, three years; David Perry, reassigned as assistant middle school principal, three years; James Pope, Washington Elementary principal, two years, retirement effective June 2011 with waiver of resignation and health insurance benefits;

Debra Queen, director of curriculum and instruction, three years; Brent Saunders, reassigned as middle school principal, three years, with waiver of resignation and health insurance benefits; Stephanie Shadle, assistant treasurer II, three years; Deborah Simmons, superintendent’s secretary, three years; William Wamsley, athletic director, one year, retirement effective June 2010 with waiver of resignation and health insurance benefits; Brett Wilson, Green Elementary principal, three years; Bruce Wilson, GAHS principal, one year, with waiver of health insurance benefits.

Later, the board met in executive session to prepare for negotiations with the Gallipolis Education Association and, at its own request, to meet with David Perry to discuss terms of contract renewal and salary.