Interim Superintendent Karen Scoggins will earn the equivalent of outgoing Superintendent Don Embry’s salary while she is leading the school district during the search for his replacement.

The Bedford County School Board unanimously voted on Tuesday to supplement Scoggins’ salary of $99,382.

Board Chairwoman Diane Neeley provided the salaries to the Times-Gazette. Embry earns $113,960 per year.

Embry is retiring at the end of the month. Scoggins was appointed interim superintendent during a special called meeting on Nov. 30.

The board has previously said it would like the new superintendent to start by March 1. The Tennessee School Board Association, which is helping in the search, may present the final candidates to the Bedford County School Board on Jan. 19.

In other business, the school board adopted the 2021-2022 academic calendar. Embry said it is very similar to this year’s calendar. Aug. 2, 2021 is the first day of school; it’s an abbreviated day. Students will have the traditional break from Aug. 30-Sept. 6 for the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.

At the end of the meeting, Embry told the board, “I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you as superintendent.”

Embry has served as superintendent since April 1, 2013. His retirement caps 40 years in education. Scoggins has 28 years’ service with the district, Neeley said.

Neeley told the T-G also that an anonymous donor gave the district $35,000 to buy computers to meet needs arising from the pandemic. The gift will provide about 100 new computers for students.