On Thursday, Dr. Mike Reed’s job search ended when the Hartselle City Schools Board of Education unanimously chose him as their next school leader.

He received a unanimous vote of approval by the five-member board, even beating out a local candidate for the position. In its vote, the board authorized its chairman, vice chairman and attorney to begin contract negotiations with Reed.

&uot;I’m thrilled and excited and looking forward to getting together with the board and their attorney to work out the details of a contract,&uot; Dr. Reed told the Hartselle Enquirer via telephone Thursday night.

The Enquirer is a sister paper to the Advocate.

&uot;I was very impressed with what I observed in the schools and in the community when my wife, Ann, and I visited there for my interview,&uot; he added. &uot;I look at this as a challenge as well as an opportunity, and I look forward to getting started.&uot;

On Friday, Reed reflected on his tenure as superintendent in Butler County, citing some things he has great pride in.

&uot;I’m very proud of the rise we’ve had in the graduation rate from 77 percent to 93 percent,&uot; he said.

&uot;That is a great accomplishment for our schools.&uot;

Other things he mentioned included the after school and extended day programs, as well as the Pre-K program.

&uot;The Pre-K program is a just a great, great program for the system,&uot; he said. &uot;We have also established a strong community education center at the old high school that is doing extremely well that the community needed.&uot;

Reed said the improvements in infrastructure of the school system are also things he takes pride in.

&uot;I’m proud of the infrastructure that this system has built over the last six years that will allow the system to grow,&uot; he said.

One of Reed’s peers in his tenure is Dr. Kathy Murphy, principal of Greenville High School.

She praised Reed’s work on Friday and said she hopes he does well in Hartselle.

&uot;I did telephone Dr. Reed this morning and congratulated him on the news of his being selected for the Hartselle position,&uot; she said.

&uot;I wish him and his wife, Anne, all the best as they make this move and in their future.&uot;

While the move is coming, it is important to remember that he remains the superintendent of the Butler School system and will likely be through February.

&uot;The superintendent is retiring on March 1 and the Hartselle board would like me to be there as close to that date is possible,&uot; he said.

&uot;I still have to get with the board here and work out the details with them.

I do plan on meeting with the Hartselle board president and attorney on Monday to begin negotiating the contract.&uot;

Reed said once his departure date is set, the BOE could possibly name an interim superintendent.

Dr. Reed is the third superintendent the system has had in the last nine years.

He followed Suzanne McGill who was with the system only a few years, who followed Jimmie Lawrence.

He did say the departure is bittersweet and he believes he leaves the system in better shape than he found it.

He also said he had a lot of people supporting his efforts.

&uot;I’m proud of the time that I’ve worked here in Butler County and the overall experience,&uot; he said.

&uot;I thank all the people who have been supportive of me and the schools and I’m very proud of the service that we have given to the children of Butler County.&uot;

He has served as superintendent of Butler Council Schools since 1999 and previously served as superintendent of the Bay St. Louis/Waveland School District for three years.

The Hartselle position was the fourth time that Reed was publicly mentioned as a candidate. He was also a finalist for the Cullman City Schools’ top position. During the last year, he has been linked to superintendent searches in both the Sylacauga City School System and the Phenix City School System.

He interviewed in Sylacauga but withdrew his name from consideration for Phenix City job. He was listed with an educational headhunter that matched desired skills by various school systems with possible candidates.

Reed’s current base salary with Butler County is $97,000.

According to the Hartselle Enquirer, the last superintendent there made approximately $120,000 and will the salary will likely remain in that range.