The 3-1-1 vote extends the superintendent’s contract through 2029 amid continuing disagreements over the evaluation process and last year’s contract approval.
by Karin Parham
Evans, GA — The Columbia County Board of Education approved a new Columbia County superintendent contract for Dr. Steven Flynt on June 16, raising his annual base salary to $330,000 and extending his employment through June 30, 2029.
The contract was approved on a 3-1-1 vote, with Chairman David Dekle and board members Kristi Baker and Judy Teasley voting in favor. Board member Philip Kent voted against the contract, while Katie Allen abstained.
Earlier in the evening, Allen left executive session before it concluded. Because she was not present for the entire closed session, she abstained from voting on the executive session affidavit affirming that only legally permitted subjects had been discussed.
The Board did not publicly discuss the superintendent’s evaluation or the terms of the contract before voting. Under Georgia law, personnel matters may be discussed in a closed executive session before official action is taken in open session.
Salary and compensation
Under the new contract, Flynt’s annual base salary will increase from $315,010 to $330,000, an increase of $14,990, or approximately 4.8 percent.
Since becoming superintendent in 2021, Flynt’s base salary has increased by $107,000, or approximately 48 percent.
| Contract | Base Salary | Auto Allowance | Special Contract Benefits |
| 2021-22 | $223,000 | $600 | None specified beyond standard administrator benefits |
| 2022-23 | $243,000 | $600 | None specified beyond standard administrator benefits |
| 2023-24 | $260,010 | $600 | Employee TRS, Employee SS/Medicare, family insurance |
| 2024-25 | $285,010 | $1,000 | Same as 2023 |
| 2025-26 | $315,010 | $1,000 | Same as 2023 |
| 2026-27 | $330,000 | $1,000 | Same as 2023 |
Beginning with Flynt’s 2023-24 contract, the Board agreed to pay, as additional compensation, the superintendent’s required employee contributions to the Teachers Retirement System, Social Security and Medicare, in addition to the employer contributions already paid by the district for its employees. The contract also added district-paid family health, dental and vision insurance. In the 2024-25 contract, the monthly automobile allowance increased from $600 to $1,000.
Prior to considering Flynt’s 2025-26 contract, board members received a Georgia School Boards Association comparison of superintendent compensation in similarly sized school districts. Based on 2024-25 base salaries, Columbia County ranked toward the lower end of the comparison group. The accompanying benefits comparison also showed that 10 of the 12 districts paid the superintendent’s required employee contribution to the Teachers Retirement System, while five districts paid the employee share of Social Security and Medicare. The comparison, however, summarized benefit categories rather than the underlying contract terms, making it difficult to determine from the chart alone how the value or scope of those benefits compared among districts.
Evaluation disagreements
Disagreements over Flynt’s 2026 annual evaluation provided additional context for the June 16 contract vote.
Emails obtained through the Georgia Open Records Act show tensions among board members increased in May as they worked through the superintendent’s evaluation. The heated exchanges reflected differing views regarding the evaluation process and how dissenting opinions should be reflected in the Board’s final evaluation.
Before the June 16 meeting, Allen had already submitted a notarized statement and supporting documentation to the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office requesting guidance regarding the Board’s June 5, 2025 special called meeting in Savannah. Earlier on June 16, she published a social media statement outlining her concerns about the Board’s handling of the previous contract. Later that evening, Allen abstained from voting on the new agreement, citing concerns with the process.
Background on 2025 contract
The June 5, 2025 special called meeting in Savannah, where the Board approved Flynt’s 2025-26 employment contract, remains the subject of public scrutiny after board members publicly offered differing recollections about how the meeting was conducted.
Official meeting minutes state the Board returned from executive session and voted in open session to approve “all personnel matters as discussed in executive session.”
Following Allen’s submission, Acting District Attorney Natalie Paine reviewed the matter and concluded there was no actionable crime. Her memorandum nevertheless recommended procedural changes intended to reduce the likelihood of similar disputes, including having each board member sign his or her own executive session affidavit and encouraging board members who object to executive session procedures to place those objections on the public record after returning to open session.
The June 5, 2025 meeting was also one of eight allegations included in activist Janet Duggan’s publicly described fraud, waste and abuse complaint involving the Columbia County School District. Board Chairman David Dekle subsequently filed a libel lawsuit against Duggan, alleging she falsely accused him of fraud. That litigation remains pending.
Unlike the June 5, 2025 meeting, the Board voted explicitly in open session to approve Flynt’s newest employment contract.
