Following a performance evaluation session at last week's meeting, the Aiken County Board of Education unanimously agreed to extend the contract of Superintendent Dr. Beth Everitt an additional two years through June 30, 2013.

"The Board is very pleased with the performance that we've had from Dr. Everitt," said Board Chair Dr. Christine Harkins.

With millions of dollars lost through state budget cuts, Harkins said that austere times have made a tremendous impact.

The district could not continue many of the programs and services that were in place two years ago.

Earlier in this calendar year, the School Board and the administration eliminated dozens of teaching positions and support staff personnel as one of several steps taken to balance the budget. But employees remain thankful they have jobs, Harkins said.

"As you look at society as a whole," she said, "the economic times are really difficult. Dr. Everitt has worked hard with her team to come up with solutions, so we could keep as many people employed as possible."

Board member Donna Wesby cited Everitt's leadership ability and her vision for moving public education forward.

"Dr. Everitt also recognizes the areas where we need improvement," Wesby said. "We still have children who are dropping out or having problems reading. For a variety of reasons, we have children left behind as evidenced through the achievement gap."

Wesby said she's comfortable with Everitt continuing as the district leader and with her plans and willingness to address instructional issues. But the Board member also suggested that Everitt increase her involvement with minority organizations in the African-American and Hispanic communities.

"That would be my biggest thing," Wesby said. "If we could spend a little more time focusing on those students who are not achieving, it will help our entire district show progress."

Everitt said Wednesday that she readily agreed with Wesby about engaging the community through churches, civic groups and nonprofits.

"We need the broader community in addition to parents in closing the achievement gap," Everitt said. "If kids who come to school are behind other kids, we have to catch them up. It takes a whole community to make sure the kids stay involved throughout their school careers."

The superintendent, nearing completion of her second full year as superintendent, said she's thrilled to have the contract extension.

"Certainly, the kinds of things the Board would like to see accomplished will take more than one or two years," Everitt said. "It really is a team effort with the district staff and so much of our progress is due to our principals and teachers in the schools. We have had so many financial challenges, but we're working hard to keep as many people employed as we can."

Everitt has guided School Board members through a monumental task in dealing with budget issues, said seven-year Board veteran Harkins, who also cited the superintendent's efforts on new and expanded academic initiatives.

"We, as a board, have spent more time this past year on instructional issues that we have in the other six years put together," Harkins said. "The administration is making a conscious effort in that area and helping us make decisions based on accurate information."