MADISONVILLE-With controversy swirling in some circles over Director of Schools Mike Lowry's contract, a noted school law attorney, Chuck Cagle, addressed the issue at Thursday night's August Monroe County Board of Education.

Contrary to reports from other media outlets, Lowry's extension is not part of a new contract, but rather an updated version of his old contract, according to Cagle.

"It is not a new contract," said Cagle, stating that when a contract is extended the contract can be rewritten with two terms changed.

In this case, the only difference in Lowry's contract from last year to the new year is his salary figure and the length of his contract.

"Only these two terms have changed," said Cagle.

Cagle said information circulating that the board was in violation of the law when they passed out the draft of Lowry's contract and talked briefly about its contents at the July meeting was completely false.

"There were two lawyers present at that meeting," said Cagle. "We're not about to sit around and let our clients violate the law. There was no violation that took place. There's no law required to pass out papers."

See full story in the Sunday, August 12, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.