LM Jan 2025

Legal Corner

Contract Renewals and Extensions: Answers to Frequent Questions

Chad Watkins IASA Associate Director/General Counsel

As part of my role as IASA general counsel, I support IASA members with their contract negotiations. This service is available to active members and non-members who are offered a superintendent contract with the understanding that they will join IASA upon taking the new position. When a superintendent takes their first job or moves to a new district, the process is straightforward: the contract is included in the offer and the hire is not finalized until both parties

old contract with a new contract and an extension is the continuation of the same contract. For the FAQ, we’ll use the term “new contract” to apply to a renewal or extension. When do I start the process of getting a new contract? You should initiate the process no later than January of the second to last year of your contract, but you do not have to wait this long. Anytime when things are going

have reached an agreement. But what if you are already the superintendent? Renewals and extensions are less intuitive. While most contracts include a renewal/ non-renewal provision, these are typically not

well can be a good time to discuss your next contract. Regardless, you never want to go into the last year of a contract unless it is your last year before retirement. If your contract has not been renewed

applicable until the end of the last year of the contract—a less than ideal time to determine whether you have further employment in that district. To bring some clarity to this process, I’ve prepared answers to the most frequently asked questions below. Keep in mind, however, that your district may do things a bit differently and that the following is provided for informative purposes and does not constitute legal advice. If you have questions specific to your situation, give me a call. What’s the difference between a contract renewal and a contract extension? Attorneys and others often use these two terms interchangeably. Technically, a renewal is replacing an

or extended by July 1st of your

last contract year, you should treat it internally as if you have been non-renewed and seek out other opportunities, even if you continue the conversation with your current board about a new contract. How do I start the process of getting a new contract? The process typically begins with an informal conversation with the board president individually or the board in closed session to express your interest in continuing as the superintendent of the district. It is also helpful to get an idea of the Board’s timeline for approval of the contract at this initial meeting.

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LM Jan 2025