BAY MINETTE – Alan Lee will oversee the Baldwin County Public Schools for another four years, but without a pay raise.

Tuesday night, the school board extended the superintendent’s contract, which was set to expire June 30.

“It’s for four years at the same pay,” said board president Norm Moore. “We did give him an additional week of vacation and reduced the notification time to three months.”

When Lee was hired in 2009, the contract called for each side to notify the other of their intentions six months in advance. Around the first of the year, the school board began looking at Lee’s performance. There was some talk about increasing his $175,000 annual salary. But in late January, Lee issued an email to teachers, staff and parents saying he did not want a pay raise.

 “I think we have made great strides (under Lee’s leadership) and look forward to four more years,” said Moore.

Board member Angie Swiger agreed. “I thank Dr. Lee for his leadership and vision; and the progress we have made over the last three years,” she said.

Lee took over a school district that was in financial ruin. The district that serves 30,000 students only had $750,000 in the bank in the summer of 2009. The state wants districts to have at least one month’s payroll on reserve. Baldwin County was far short of that guideline of $17 million.

Belt-tightening and the one-cent sales tax have allowed the district to rebound and build a rainy day fund of around $26 million.

“I think we are headed to a better place because of (his) leadership,” said board member David Tarwater.

But not everyone was in agreement. The contract renewal was passed by a vote of 6-1. The lone dissenting vote came from District 1 representative David Cox.

“I share your vision for Baldwin County schools for the most part,” Cox said to Lee, “but I don’t agree with it all. I don’t believe your leadership style is conducive to this county.”