Wayne County Public Schools will be paying their interim superintendent 42 percent more than Dr. Michael J. Dunsmore earned as superintendent. On Wednesday, Dr. Dunsmore resigned effective immediately.
His resignation came one day after a special-called meeting of the Wayne County Public School Board during which Dr. Dunsmore announced the school district’s current local fund balance had a deficit of $4,888,647 and the school district would need immediate assistance from the County of Wayne to cover the cost of local supplements this month.
Dr. Dunsmore had been paid $15,884 monthly ($190,608 annually). Interim Superintendent Dr. Jim Merrill will be paid $22,587 per month, a 42 percent increase. He will serve as interim until a new superintendent is hired or until December 31, 2020, whichever occurs first.
Dr. Merrill retired from Wake County Schools and has twice been named the North Carolina Superintendent of the Year. Dunsmore had served as Wayne County Superintendent since July 2015.
