Bartholomew Consolidated Schools are getting ready to announce their new superintendent.

Dr. Jim Roberts, head of the Batesville school system, has been chosen for the role, according to school district officials.

Roberts could not be reached at his Batesville office today with office staff saying he was at an out-of- town meeting. He was chosen as  2016 Indiana Superintendent of the Year by Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents District 8. He also won the award in 2014.

Roberts has undergraduate and masters degrees from Indiana University and his doctorate in education is from Nova Southeastern University. He has worked in Bartholomew County before, with time as a teacher at Flat Rock-Hawcreek schools, Shedd said.

According to a biography from the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, Roberts has been superintendent in Batesville since 2007, and previously served as the district’s assistant superintendent and as principal and assistant principal at Batesville High School.

The site reports that he has served as board president of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce and is a board member at Margaret Mary Community Hospital, the Rural Alliance for the Arts and the Coalition for a Drug Free Batesville. He is a co-founder of Team Batesville, a community running club.

At a public hearing last  month, BCSC officials unveiled the contract they are offering to the new superintendent. School Board President Jill Shedd explained at that meeting that the initial contract will be for three-years.  She added that after the third year, employment with the district is year-to-year.

The proposed contract includes:

• Annual Salary (1st year) $170,000
• 10.5% Retirement
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Annual 401(a)/403(b) Plan Contribution
• $500,000 Life Insurance
• Annual Auto Allowance of $10,000
• Annual Professional Development Allowance and Membership Fees of $4,000
• One‐time moving expense not to exceed $5,000 if moving from out-of-district
• 20 paid vacation days and recognized holidays, as well as the same number of sick and general leave granted all teachers and administrators.

Roberts is scheduled to be formally announced at the school board’s next meeting, scheduled for April 11 at CSA-New Tech, which will also include a vote on the contract. That meeting will be preceded by a reception for Roberts, says Shedd.

You can view a full copy of the draft contract at the BCSC website at www.bcsc.k12.in.us