By Rebecca Rider

rebecca.rider@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — After nearly an hour and a half of deliberation in closed session, the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education gave Superintendent Dr. Lynn Moody control of the helm for at least four more years. Her contract has been extended through 2020.

Moody’s tenure as superintendent has had its share of controversy, from the much-debated one-to-one initiative and a focus on digital learning to a plummet in test scores in 2014-15.

But school board Chairman Josh Wagner said that since Moody came on board in October 2013, the school system has also seen progress, and he said that the way to continue that was to “stay the course.”

“And the best way to do that is to have Dr. Moody with us,” he said.

Moody said she was excited by the opportunity to continue to serve the school system in this role.

“It’s a big honor,” she said.

Moody said the school system is “still shooting to be extraordinary” and that the next big step for Rowan-Salisbury schools will come in spring, when the school system draws up a new strategic plan.

A new plan is implemented every three years, Moody said. The current plan, which focuses on literacy, was implemented in 2014. One of its major goals was for 90 percent of students to be reading at or above grade level by the year 2017, as well as achieving or exceeding one year’s growth in reading each year.

The plan also strove to implement problem-based learning and critical thinking skills by introducing real-life problems for students to solve, and included technology and the one-to-one initiative as a key piece.

“I think we are on the right track, and our teachers are doing some amazing work,” she said, “I look forward to working with them.”

Moody’s contract was extended through June 30, 2020. Board member Dr. Richard Miller made the motion, which was seconded by board member Susan Cox. It was approved unanimously.