Seems just a tad bit much for that huge city...I would definitely be pissed if I lived there

PONCA CITY — Businessman Gary McVay is upset the Ponca City School Board has given Superintendent David Pennington a $227,000 yearly compensation package.

He's even more irritated the school board president won't place him on the agenda so he can ask board members to explain their actions to the public.

"I just think that's a dictatorship," said McVay, 72. "Everybody ought to be able to have dialogue with their local school board."

Don Nuzum, president of the Ponca City School Board, said the board considers the superintendent's compensation to be a personnel matter.

"Anything to do with personnel, we don't talk about in open session," Nuzum said. "It's all in executive session. That's the way it has always been since I've been on the board. ... We just don't put anything on the agenda that has to do with personnel."

"Our board meetings are meetings held in public, not public meetings," added Superintendent Pennington.

However, Pennington said board members want to hear from school patrons and have a public comment period at meetings where citizens are each given five minutes to address board members.

"He's expressed his opinion," Pennington said. "I can assure you they all heard him."

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