This story has been updated.
After announcing Tuesday that it will extend its superintendent search due to an information breach, the Atlanta Board of Education also voted to extend interim Superintendent Danielle Battle’s contract through the end of the year.
Battle’s contract was set to end June 30. She came out of retirement to serve in the role after the school board decided last June not to extend then-Superintendent Lisa Herring’s contract.
In a press release, the board praised Battle’s tenure, highlighting her work with Atlanta Public Schools’ literacy office to develop the district’s first literacy policy.
“As I stated to the board of education earlier this school year, I will make myself available to our district during this superintendent search process,” Battle said in a statement. “This extension of my contract allows us to continue the implementation of our literacy plan, a keen focus on special education services and other key district priorities.”
Battle’s contract extension comes with a pay raise of almost 10%. Her base salary of $320,000 has been increased to $350,000, according to records obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution through an open records request.
The board’s original timeline planned to announce a sole finalist for superintendent in April or May, with an official start date of July 1.
The school board has said it plans to continue the superintendent search with the firm it chose in October, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, and will release details at a later date.
