Wright City R-II Superintendent Dr. Chris Gaines’ contract has been extended through the 2013-14 school year. Under the new contract, approved Jan. 28 by school board members in a 6-1 closed session vote, Gaines’ annual salary will increase to $123,701 during the 2011-12 school year from $118,582 that he is currently making. He will continue to receive an annual raise. In the final year of his contract, his salary will increase 2 to 8 percent. Gaines, who has been with the district since 2008, is looking forward to continue leading the district. “The longer you’re here, the more people you know and the more relationships you build,” Gaines said. “It starts to feel like home.” Gaines’ future salaries during the final two years of his new contract will be based upon his annual performance review conducted by the school board, according to the contract. His contract with the district includes health insurance and retirement benefits. He also is entitled up to 20 vacation days each year, excluding weekends and legal holidays. He is allowed to roll over five unused vacation days as sick days to the following year. In addition, Gaines may become a member of professional organizations in which he deems appropriate with the district covering the costs up to $2,500. He also is reimbursed for “reasonable and necessary expenses” related to his duties. This is the second contract extension for Gaines. When he was hired in February 2008, he signed a three-year contract that was later extended through the 2011-2012 school year in January 2009. He was paid $110,000 when he was first hired and received a 6 percent bump in salary to $116,600 under the terms of his first contract extension. Under Gaines’ leadership, the district has passed two no-tax increase bond issues, the first in 2009 for improvements to the high school athletic complex and to air-condition the remainder of the high school and the Wright City West Elementary School gymnasium. The latest was in 2010 to purchase land at the corner of Highway F and Roelker Road as the future site for a new high school. Gaines also has dealt with making significant budget cuts last year as the district faced a budget crunch and opening Wright City East Elementary as a kindergarten and first-grade facility rather than housing students up to fifth grade due to smaller enrollment numbers than originally predicted. In addition, the superintendent has sought input from district patrons by creating a community advisory team and hosting multiple town hall-style meetings on a various topics such as focusing on the district’s finances, facilities and student achievement. Without any immediate major capital improvement projects planned, looking ahead Gaines wants the district to continue monitoring student performance and hopes to build on gains made by several grade levels in the past year. He also wants to see the district’s ACT scores and attendance numbers climb. “We’re trying to move student achievement forward,” he said. Before coming to Wright City, Gaines was superintendent for seven years in the Crawford County R-I School District in Bourbon. Prior to that, he was principal at Bourbon High School. Gaines replaced former Superintendent Mark Porter, who retired following the 2007-08 school year. Laura Marsh was the lone school board member to vote against Gaines’ contract extension.