While Roanoke Rapids School Superintendent Dennis Sawyer got a contract extension Tuesday, he also got a 10 percent bonus, minutes from the school board meeting show.

The minutes confirm after meeting in closed session, the school board came back into open session and board member Fred Wier made a motion to give Sawyer a bonus equal to 10 percent of his salary. Five members voted for the bonus while three voted against it, according to the minutes.

School board Chairman Vernon Bryant told The Spin today the board had the option to give the superintendent anywhere from no bonus up to 10 percent. Last year the superintendent got between a 5 to 7 percent bonus, Bryant said.

The majority board members believed the superintendent has done an excellent job, with three of the four schools in the system meeting Adequate Yearly Progress and the requirement of the ABCs of Education, Bryant said.

The only school which did not meet those requirements was Roanoke Rapids High School, barely missing the marks by slightly less than one percentage point, Bryant said.

Even the three casting dissenting votes, Bryant said, “Felt he was entitled to the bonus. The amount they didn’t feel would set well.”

The bonus is equal to between $8,500 to $10,000, Bryant said.

Sawyer had more than a year left on his contract and the school board extended it three years for the superintendent who is beginning the fourth year of his first contract.