The Farmersville Independent School District Board of Trustees has extended the contract of Superintendent Michael French and has given him a $10,000 annual salary increase.

The board made its decision after meeting in executive session to discuss French’s job evaluation and his contract.

FISD board president Tony Gray said French’s contract was extended one year to a three-year deal.  “We hired Mr. French initially on a three-year contract,” Gray said, explaining that the board wanted to restore the length of French’s contract to its original term.

The board also increased French’s base salary to $170,000 per year, up from the $160,000 he earned during his first academic year on the job.  The superintendent’s new salary is effective in January, Gray said.

Rather than hiring a head-hunting search firm, Farmersville ISD conducted its own search for a superintendent to succeed Jeff Adams, who retired at the end of the 2018-19 school year.

“With all that he has done, I believe he has earned the increase in pay,” Gray said.  “I consider us to be very blessed to have [French] on the job,” he said.  “The school district is definitely headed in the right direction.”

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By John Kanelis • [email protected]