CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT BETWEEN KNOX COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND BUZZ THOMAS This Employment Contract is entered into this day of, 2016 between the Knox County Board of Education (hereinafter “BOE”) and Buzz Thomas (hereinafter “Interim Director’) The BOE desires to hire Buzz Thomas as an Interim Director of Schools to serve in the statutory capacity of Director of Schools until such time as the BOE has hired a permanent Director of Schools: and Mr. Thomas is presently President of The Great Schools Partnership, in which capacity he is intimately familiar with the personnel, operations and goals of the Knox County Schools; and ‘The Great Schools Partnership has agreed that it will grant Mr. Thomas a leave of absence to serve as Interim Director of Knox County Schools; and The BOE has determined, by approval of this contract, that the hiring of Mr. Thomas is in the best interest of the Knox County Schools; and 1. The BOE, in accordance with its vote on April 6, 2016, hereby employs Buzz ‘Thomas as Interim Director of Knox County Schools on. an interim basis until the BOE appoints a Director in accordance with Knox County Board of Education Policies C-122, and T.C_A. § 49-2-301(a). 2. This Contract of Employment as Interim Director will commence on June 15, 2016 and will continue until the appointment and the hiring of a permanent Director of Knox County Schools by the BOE, at which time this contract shall expire of its own terms. In the event that a permanent Director has not been hited within a year the terms of this agreement are subject to renegotiation. 3. The Director and Interim Director will engage in a collaborative and ineremental transition of authority and responsibility from the date of this contract through June 15, 2016 and then through July 8, 2016. Throughout this period, the Director will provide support, mentorship and counsel to the Interim Director. Consistent with his contract settlement agreement, the Director shall retain statutory authority under T.C.A. § 49-2-301, and associated state and federal law, through July 8, 2016. However, the Interim Director will assume primary decision- making responsibility for the Knox County Schools on June 15, 2016 and at that time theDirector's day-to-day role will become primarily consultative and advisory. The Interim Director will assume full statutory authority under T.C.A. § 49-2-301, and associated state and federal law, as Director of Schools beginning at $:01 p.m. EDT on July 8, 2016 4 The Interim Director meets the requirements for position of Director of Schools as set forth in T.C.A. § 49-2-301(@).. 5. The Interim Director is the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the school system and shall have, under the direction of the BOE. general supervision of all public schools, personel and departments of Knox County Schools. The Interim Director shall perform all the duties assigned to the Director of Schools by T.C.A. § 49-2-301 and the Knox County Board of Education policies. as well as any other duties assigned by the BOE. The Interim Director shall have the authority to organize the Central Office as deemed necessary, consistent with Tennessee law and BOE policy. 6. The Interim Director shall be compensated at the rate of One Hundred, Ninety- five thousand Dollars ($195,000.00) per annum, payable on a monthly basis for those months actually employed hereunder. 7. The Interim Director's benefits shall be those as presently provided to Interim Director by his present employer which benefits are comparable to those presently provided by the BOE to its present Director, in an amount not to exceed Three Thousand, Three Hundred, Fifty Dollars and Zero Cents ($3,350.00) per month. 8, The Interim Director agrees that he shall not submit his name as a candidate for the permanent position of Director of Knox County Schools. 9. The Interim Director shall devote full time, attention, knowledge and skill solely and exclusively to the business and interest of the BOE and Knox County Schools as required by T.C.A. § 49-2-301(b)(1)(X). 10. In accordance with Knox County Board of Education policies, the BOE, either collectively or individually, shall promptly refer to the Interim Director any and all complaints and/or concerns brought to their attention. 11. This Contract will be unilaterally terminated by the BOE upon thirty (30) days written notice to the Interim Director 12. This contract may be unilaterally terminated by the Interim Director upon thirty (30) days written notice to the BOE. 13. Upon the unilateral termination of this contract, either by the BOE or by the Interim Director, itis the intention of the Interim Director to retum to his previous position at the Great Schools Partnership, but both parties acknowledge that the BOE is not a party to any agreement between Mr. Thomas and the Great Schools Partnership.14, This Contract shall be governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee. The patties agree that the Chancery Courts of Knox County shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any action that may arise under this Contract 15, In the event of any conflict between the terms, conditions and provisions of this Employment Contract and the provisions of the BOE’s policies or any permissive Federal or State lav, then, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the terms of the BOE’s policies or any other such statutes, regulations or rulings shall take precedence over the contrary provisions of this Employment Contract. 16. If during the tem of this Employment Contract, it is found that a specific clause of the Contract is illegal under Federal or State law, the remainder of this Employment Contract shall remain in force 17. This Contract is complete and contains the entire understanding between the parties. Any amendments to this agreement shall be in writing and shall not take effect until signed by the Interim Director and approved by a vote of the BOE. KNOX COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION: BY ‘Doug Hanis, Chainman DATE, INTERIM DIRECTOR: BY. Buzz Thomas DATE,