Vestavia Hills School Superintendent Secures New Contract Amid Ongoing Disputes
Contract Renewal Amidst Controversy
In the face of ongoing community controversies, the Superintendent for the Vestavia Hills City School system, Dr. Michael Todd Freeman, has received an extension to his contract. Following a unanimous decision by the school system’s Board of Education during a recent meeting, Dr. Freeman is now contracted through May 2028.
Freeman’s Contributions to Vestavia Hills City Schools
“He is a blessing to our community,” said Board of Education President Jaclyn Hudson while announcing the update to Freeman’s contract. Commending Freeman, she added, “He is one of the hardest-working men I know. He does what’s right when no one is looking.”
Scott Brown, the board’s Vice President, stated that this contract renewal aligns Freeman’s terms with those seen in other nearby school systems.
Despite the contract approval being met with applause from some of the crowd, others present conveyed their dissatisfaction through ‘thumbs down’ gestures. Citizens are either privy to undisclosed information or displaying a deep-rooted trust in the institution.
Contract Terms
A copy of Freeman’s contract acquired by ABC 33/40 News confirmed his new annual salary set at $239,500, a considerable bump up from his starting salary of $190,000. The remuneration outlined in the new contract is a 26 percent increase from his initial superintendent position six years ago.
Surprisingly, this news comes after Freeman’s proposed tax increase was voted down by citizens last year. Concurrently, he assured the community that he was planning to minimize expenses.
Freeman defended his proposal saying, “The city had grown noticeably since the last property tax increase three decades ago. To cope with the boom, investments have to be made in schools.”
The Superintendent’s Perks
The newly approved contract outlines additional perks for Freeman, including a $12,000 annual automobile allowance, a $2,500 monthly housing allowance, twenty days of vacation, five days of personal leave per year, as well as life insurance worth $100,000. Freeman is also entitled to professional and community organization dues. The allowance for housing was not part of Freeman’s original 2018 contract.
Freeman’s obligation to the district demands an absolute minimum of 240 working days per year. If he exceeds this, he will be compensated for up to an additional 15 days per year. An added feature of the new contract promises a bonus of $10,000 if Freeman is still employed on his tenth anniversary with the district, aligning with his contract end date in March 2028.
Call for Transparency
However, in recent weeks, following the reassignment of popular Principal Lauren Dressback, Freeman’s decisions have come under scrutiny by community members. Freeman and the Board of Education have repeatedly declined to provide reasoning for the sudden removal of Dressback from her position, citing advice from the board’s attorney to remain silent on personnel matters.
“He does what’s right when no one’s looking. I believe that’s one of his greatest traits,” said Hudson in Freeman’s defense.
“If this is how he behaves when we are watching, when all of Birmingham, Hoover, Mountain Brook, and everyone deciding whether or not to move into our cities are watching, then we are really concerned,” retorted one concerned citizen during a public comment session.
