Three new hires and the renewal of the superintendent’s contract were approved by the Troy City Board of Education on Friday.

Board members voted unanimously to extend Superintendent Linda Felton-Smith’s contract three more years on Friday, allowing for only any cost-of-living pay increases which would be granted to all faculty and staff.

“I appreciate the board’s confidence in granting me an additional three-year contract,” said Felton-Smith.” I realize there are many challenges before us, but I realize that by working together with the board, staff, parents and community we can work together toward our goal of providing successful opportunities for our students in Troy.”

Felton-Smith, who has been superintendent for six years, said, her main objective is continuing work on the five-year plan “that is our roadmap for what needs to be done in the system.” Ultimately, she added, the priority, is academic success for all the students enrolled.

“Of course, I want it all completed yesterday, and I have to realize that it takes time,” she said. “And that is my frustration as an educator. I feel it takes too long sometimes to bring about the needed changes.”

In addition to her contract renewal, board members also used the called meeting to approve three new hires, including:

William Matthew Norris, a science teacher at Charles Henderson High School. Norris is a first-year teacher.

Julie Simmons, director and principal at Troy-Pike Center for Technology. Simmons brings 24 years experience in technical education and comes to the system from Montgomery County.

Mickey Daughtry as chief financial officier for the system. Daughtry, a Troy resident and graduate of Troy Universtiy, has 21 years of experience with the state treasury department, most recently working director of the SAFE department.

“We hope that his background with the state, while different than school finance, will bring financial skills that will make it easy for him to transition to this role,” Felton-Smith said.