Superintendent’s Contract Extended by Cobb County Board of Education

The Cobb County Board of Education has voted to extend Superintendent Chris Ragsdale’s contract by an additional year. Ragsdale’s contract now extends to Feb. 10, 2025. This newest contract extension was not on the agenda for the board’s February meeting. The vote was a divided one with the board’s four Republicans voting in favor of the contract extension and its three Democrats voting against it. 

The board last voted in 2021 to extend Ragsdale’s contract to 2024. In November, the board amended the contract to give Ragsdale more power in dealing with his employers. Those changes — which weren’t made public until about a month later — are unusual among metro Atlanta superintendent contracts.

Ragsdale’s annual compensation includes a $350,000 base salary, 25 vacation days, a 12% employer contribution to a retirement fund, and other benefits. 

Said Ragsdale on the vote, “I appreciate the vote of confidence in the contract extension greatly. Cobb is the best place to teach, lead and learn.”  

Ragsdale has served as superintendent since 2015.  The vote was also divided along party lines at that time.