TPS Superintendent Ballard To Stay On Another Year

Tulsa Public Schools extended an offer to the current Superintendent, Dr. Keith Ballard, of a one-year contract extension.

Ballard accepted the offer, he announced at the school board meeting Monday night.

The new contract ends July 2014 and does not include a pay raise.

Ballard said the extra year will allow him to spend more time improving test scores and academics at TPS.

Ballard said months ago he planned to retire at the end of the current school year. The school board has since been searching for a successor, but for the next year, that successor is Ballard, himself.

One possible reason Ballard is staying on for the next year is to help guide selected schools through the transition to a continuous learning calendar.

TPS is considering putting some schools on the new calendar as early as next year. The school board will be making a decision on that in the coming months.

In the meantime, the school board will continue interviewing candidates for the superintendent job when Ballard does retire.

10/22/2012 Related Story: TPS Superintendent Pitches Continuous Learning Calendar

5/23/2012 Related Story: Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Says He'll Retire Next Year