Wayne County Schools looking for a new Superintendent…..The Wayne County Board of Education met
Wednesday in a Special Called Session. Following a two hour and twenty minute executive session,
Superintendent Don Neal resigned his position per an agreement with the Board. Brian Dishman was
named Interim Superintendent effective immediately, and a new search will be held for the
Superintendent’s position.
Neal, a long time school employee in various positions, was hired as Superintendent July
27, 2023 at a salary of $130,000 per year for a term on 3 years and 11 months.
Three members of the Board, Chairman Benton Sloan, Tony Roberts, and Richard Ramsey had called the
special session, and once the meeting convened, the Board went into executive session, upon the
recommendation of Board Attorney John Blevins without Supt. Neal. Neal’s Attorney, George Bertram
remained with the Board and Blevins during the Executive Session, and when the Board went back into
session, a vote of 3 for with two abstentions, accepted the Board agreement with Neal to resign.
Following that action, by a same 3 for and two abstentions, the Board hired Brian Dishman as interim
Superintendent, with a new Superintendent Search to begin. Both votes were the same, with Sloan,
Roberts and Ramsey voting in favor of the agreement and hiring Dishman as Interim Superintendent. Board Members Jarrod Criswell and Joe Hancock abstained.