SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. — School board members voted to extend the contract of Superintendent Todd McGhee after a marathon closed-door session.

The Social Circle Board of Education spent more than three hours behind in executive session Friday in a special called meeting.

Board members and McGhee will continue discussions about his salary and other terms of the deal, which was extended into 2019.

"There were legal questions on Dr. McGhee's contract, which was approved in September," board chairman John Callahan said.

The deal now only requires work between attorneys. It will get a vote at a future board meeting but should continue McGhee's tenure through at least June 30, 2019.

The board had called the special meeting to talk about the superintendent’s contract and other personnel actions, but  Callahan had said the system’s top job was the only item on the agenda.

Board member Rico Jackson made the motion to go into executive session. Vice Chairwoman Sabrina Sanford-Flint seconded it and the vote was unanimous.

Board member Tonia Lumpkin was absent. Lowana Bell, a nonvoting representative, also was absent.

McGhee came to Social Circle in 2012 when he succeeded Bettye Ray. He previously served as the principal of Elbert County High School.

The school board has seen significant upheaval since McGhee’s hiring. Tim Lemonds, who was the board chairman when McGhee was selected, did not seek re-election in 2017.

Two incumbents lost their re-election bids in November as Jackson and Sanford-Flint joined the board. They defeated incumbents Jamie P. Peterson and Charlie Akin, respectively.

Patrick Dally was appointed to the board in Callahan’s former seat, which he resigned to seek the board chairman slot.

Lumpkin won a special election for an unexpired term in District 1 after the resignation of Sinclair Grey.

- Walton Tribune staff writer Stephen Milligan contributed to this report.