RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WGNS) — The Rutherford County Board of Education voted 4-3 on Jan. 22 to extend Schools Director Jimmy Sullivan’s contract through 2030 following debate over severance provisions and potential taxpayer costs.
Board members Butch Vaughn, Stan Vaught, Vice Chairman Frances Rosales, and Chairman Claire Maxwell supported the extension. Board members Caleb Tidwell, Katie Darby, and Tammy Sharp opposed the measure unless the contract limited potential severance to six months of pay and benefits if the board chose to terminate the director without just cause.
The disagreement centered on financial liability if the board were to end Sullivan’s contract early. Under the contract terms, if terminated without just cause, the district would be required to pay the remaining balance of the contract. If terminated for just cause, no payout would be required.
Tidwell referenced the board’s 2022 decision to provide former Director Bill Spurlock with a year of salary and benefits after hiring Sullivan. Darby estimated that the arrangement cost taxpayers approximately $199,000. She also calculated that ending Sullivan’s contract midway through the new term could cost about $587,000 and potentially more than $1 million if terminated later in the contract period.
Sullivan oversees a district that includes 52 schools, more than 7,000 employees, and approximately 51,600 pre-K through 12th-grade students.
According to Rutherford County Finance records, Sullivan’s salary increased from $241,519 in fiscal year 2024-25 to $252,557 in fiscal year 2025-26. He receives standard employee benefits.
A 2025-26 report from the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents lists the median salary for directors overseeing districts of at least 30,000 students at $255,000, with an average salary of $271,723.
The extension vote follows prior board divisions over other issues, including litigation involving the American Civil Liberties Union related to book removals from school libraries.
Supporters of the extension cited the district’s academic performance. Rutherford County Schools has earned a Level 5 rating for student growth from the Tennessee Department of Education for six consecutive years. District officials have previously reported that the system ranked first in the state for student growth in the most recent year evaluated.
Chairman Maxwell indicated the board intends to move forward following the vote as the district continues planning for enrollment growth and academic initiatives.
