Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education members Wednesday approved a five-year contract for Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker.

According to Board President Paul Abbott, the contract is from July 1 to June 30, 2030.

In 2022 the board also extended Whitaker’s contract by five years.

As long as both parties are willing, contracts, Whitaker said, can be renegotiated at any point.

“I was approaching the end of this particular contract. I asked if they (board members) were interested in reopening, and the board said yes, and we came to a conclusion that they (board members) were interested in another five years,” Whitaker said.

Whitaker added that the negotiations began in December 2024, and came to a conclusion a few weeks ago.

The board, Abbott said, retained outside counsel to negotiate the pact.

“I’ve always thought it was better to not have the board negotiate. And this isn’t specific to Dr. Whitaker,” Abbott said. “Since I’ve been President, we don’t handle the negotiations with our superintendent.”

Abbott added that even under the best of circumstances, negotiations can get tenuous.

“We have to maintain a working relationship here within the district. And I just think things like this are better handled by someone from the outside,” Abbott noted.

And the board president is happy with the contract extension.

“Obviously we chose Dr. Whitaker five years ago. I can’t believe it’s been five years, but things are going well, and the board certainly supported the idea of extending Dr. Whitaker’s contract, so yeah, I’m glad. I think it’s a good time to do it,” Abbott said.

Abbott said that Whitaker has a plan in place for another five years.

“It’s a very exciting time, and a very stable time. Obviously, we went through a phase where we were kind of changing over superintendents more for more frequently than we would have liked,” Abbott said.

In other business the board approved the canvass of votes for the school budget.

The JPS budget passed 323-54. District voters also approved creation of a $10 million capital reserve fund 329-45 and funding a maintenance repair reserve fund 338-28. Board members Frank Galeazzo and Vice President Joseph Pawelski ran unopposed with Galeazzo receiving 321 votes, and Pawelski receiving 329 votes. The terms for Galeazzo and Pawelski begin on July 1 and end June 30, 2028.

Brittnay Spry, assistant superintendent of finance and operations said in April there will be no tax increase.

The $115,658,398 spending plan, passed Tuesday, has an increase of $6.5 million in New York State Foundation aid as well as an increase in building aid. Overall revenues, Spry said, increased to about $10 million. With American Rescue Plan Act funds, the district will retain 81 positions. The budget also calls for the purchase of six school buses. The JPS spending plan also will add 14 new positions – 12 reading teachers and two elementary art teachers. Spry noted that each elementary school can have its own dedicated art teacher.

“I want to thank voters for supporting board members, and supporting the budget and resolutions,” Abbott added. “We are in a good position for next year.”