On the job nearly one month now, Josh Edwards can now be paid as the superintendent of the Southwestern Consolidated Schools system.

On Tuesday, the school board held a public meeting to allow for questions regarding the proposed superintendent contract.

There was no public comment so the meeting was quickly adjourned.

Edwards, who is going from Southwestern Elementary School principal to superintendent, officially became superintendent on March 9. His contract reflects him working 81 school days this year and then the following two years until June 30, 2024.

Edwards will be paid $29,595.78 for the remainder of this school year and then have a salary set at $95,000 for the following two years.

The contract can automatically be extended at the end of the first year plus 81 days (June 30, 2023) and each year thereafter for a period of three years. The rolling three-year contract begins July 1, 2023, and continues each year thereafter unless the school board provides a formal notice in writing on or before Jan. 1 of the school year in which the board wishes to terminate the contract.

In his ninth year as principal in the southern Shelby County school system, Edwards served as the interim superintendent for eight months during the 2020-2021 school year in the absence of superintendent Curt Chase, who was out on medical leave.

Edwards does not have a superintendent’s license but is enrolled to start his certification in late May. His contract stipulates if he acquires his license during the term of the contract, his salary automatically increases to $105,000 per year.

Edwards needs 30 credit hours to receive his superintendent’s license. He believes it can be accomplished in 18 months if he doubles up on classes, which is his plan.

“To get some on-job training was good but I also want the knowledge, not just for the license,” said Edwards after Tuesday’s meeting. “I want to know why that is the way it is and what’s the philosophy.”

After the meeting, new interim elementary school principal Keith Grant visited with the board.

Grant was a longtime educator at Indian Creek in Trafalgar, Indiana. He recently retired but was asked to come to Southwestern by Edwards, who worked with and coached wrestling with Grant several years ago.

Edwards said the interview process for his full-time replacement at the elementary school will begin next week.

“The idea is to get someone secured for next school year to ease them into it,” he said.