The Pickens County School Board unanimously approved to execute a new contract this week to hire Dr. Lula Mae Perry as the fulltime superintendent for the school system. Perry was selected as an interim superintendent earlier this month to replace Dr. Ben Desper, who submitted his resignation in May. Desper held the position for approximately two years and said he resigned to retire and spend more time with his family.

During Wednesday night’s called meeting, though, school board attorney Phillip Landrum III explained that the contract was amended from an interim six month contract to a fulltime year long contract. Landrum said the school superintendent association recommends that full superintendents have a one year contract.
Present at Wednesday’s meeting, Dr. Perry expressed her gratitude to the board and said she looks forward to the opportunity to serve the community.
Dr. Perry has served for the past twelve years as superintendent for Jeff Davis County, from 2000 -2012 and work in a consulting capacity for the month of June, as outgoing Superintendent Ben Desper prepares his exit at the end of the month. Perry is expected to shift to full-time in July.