In the wake of financial practices flagged by state auditors, an ongoing GBI investigation, and the abrupt departure of longtime superintendent Marty Waters, the Evans County Board of Education hired an interim school superintendent last week. The hiring decision came as the Board works to approve its FY 2026 budget and must pay out more than $326,000 in salary and benefits to Waters over the next fifteen months.
Closed Meeting Interviews
Though the position was not formally advertised, interviews for an interim superintendent were conducted with at least three candidates on Monday, June 9, 2025 – Dr. Bradley S. Anderson, Dr. Jeannie Threatt, and Dr. Mary Felton.
Board of Education members met in a closed executive session at 10:00 a.m. on June 9 with a paper sign posted outside the meeting location minutes before the meeting was set to begin. The same Board members were not present for all three interviews.
On Friday, TheGeorgiaVirtue.com inquired about whether or not the Board met the requirements of the Georgia Open Meetings Act. Assistant Superintendent Bobby Costlow provided a copy of the sign posted on the door. When asked about notice to the legal organ and the timeline for publication, Costlow replied that notice was given to the legal organ ‘orally,’ but did not provide any details of when that notice was provided.
Decision Published Prior to Official Board Vote
On June 11, the Board of Education updated the school system website to list ‘Dr. Bradley Anderson as the Interim Superintendent, though the Board of Education was not slated to vote on the matter until the following day.
On June 12, the Board of Education voted in a special-called meeting to employ Anderson as the Interim Superintendent for a period of one year.
Terms of Contract
There are no dates for the contract signature lines, but the contract states the terms were entered into by the parties on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
The contract begins July 1, 2025 and runs through June 30, 2026 with terms as follows:
- $16,243.37 paid at the end of the month following each month of service for July, August, and September 2025.
- $7,959.21 paid monthly beginning in October 2025 and ending June 30, 2026.
- Anderson is entitled to any and all benefits that any other 230-day (or more) employee is entitled to as part of their employment contract
- 15 days of vacation per year
- Sick leave will accrue in the same manner as other 12-month administrators in accordance with state and local board policy
A travel allowance is noted but with no definitive amount. Out-of-county mileage, expenses at professional meetings/conferences, and travel/lodging are all reimbursable for ‘reasonable expenses in the discharge of duties’ as interim superintendent.
The BOE will be responsible for paying membership dues for the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), Georgia School Superintendent Association (GSSA), and the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL).
The contract can be terminated with or without cause with 60 days notice. Additionally, the Board can hire a permanent superintendent at any time during the term of the year-long contract, which would immediately end the employment of the interim superintendent.
For the period beginning June 13, 2025 and ending June 30, 2025, Anderson is compensated under an alternative compensation agreement. The alternative compensation plan is likely due to financial position and the end of the fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2025. TheGeorgiaVirtue.com has requested a copy of this alternative compensation agreement.
The contract was signed by Anderson and Board Chairman Durrell Lynn with witness signatures of Board Attorney Ronald Hallman and Assistant Superintendent Robert Costlow.
