Fallaw given 3-year contract

Grady County School Superintendent Dr. Tommy Pharis wants to keep Cairo High School head football coach Tom Fallaw employed by the local schools and the school board Tuesday night approved a three-year contract for the coach.
However, the contract does not provide for an increase in salary or benefits for the head coach, but it does expand his title to Director of Cairo High School Football Operations, Head Football Coach and Instructor.
Superintendent Pharis says the title was a necessity in offering a school system employee a multiyear contract, but noted the contract does not provide for him any benefits over and above what any other classroom teacher receives.
Under the contract Fallaw will be paid his base salary, which is based on the state salary schedule, plus an additional 40 days, which maintains his current status of being a 12-month employee. The contract also caps his athletic supplement at $16,000 annually.
Following a closed session Tuesday night to discuss personnel, the board voted unanimously to approve the contract and all other personnel recommendations as presented by the superintendent.
“This is a good will gesture more than anything and it protects coach Fallaw from a bad season on the heels of two highly successful seasons. I want him to stay and I know he has had other offers for more money that he has refused,” Dr. Pharis said.
The superintendent also pointed out that Fallaw did not seek a pay raise or the contract, but that the idea for a multiyear contract was the result of a conversation between Dr. Pharis and the coach.
“I think our athletic program at the high school and our football program in particular is moving in the right direction. I want to see that continue and I want to keep Tom Fallaw in Cairo,” Dr. Pharis said.
The superintendent credits the coach for strong discipline and sportsmanship. He also hopes the contract will allow for Fallaw to keep his staff in place as much as possible.
Under the new contract Fallaw may request the board conduct a salary review at the end of both the first and second year of the three-year deal. However, Fallaw will not be exempt from any furloughs or pay cuts the board approves for any other school personnel.
The term of the contract approved Tuesday night runs retroactively to March 1 of this year and will expire on February 29, 2012.
In other action Monday night, the board:
Approved the hiring of Steve Bowers – teacher, CHS; Salome Van der Watt – teacher, CHS; David Johnson – teacher, CHS; and Wesley Higdon – part-time substitute, community service program.
Accepted the resignations of Steve Dill – teacher/coach, CHS; Barbara Keyton – teacher, Shiver; Melissa Butler – teacher, Southside; Theresa Clifford – nurse, Northside; and Latashal Ceesay – parapro, Northside.
Approved the transfers of Cynthia Thornton – PE instructor from Eastside to Shiver; Lisa Latz – PE instructor from WMS to Eastside; Shelia Cain from Eastside assistant principal to principal; and Gary Keve from WMS assistant principal to Eastside assistant principal.