Thursday night's school board vote was meant to bring closure to months of controversy surrounding Richmond County schools Superintendent Charles Larke, but Friday found some board members still asking questions.

At Thursday's meeting, the board approved a contract that allows Dr. Larke to maximize his retirement, receive up to $97,000 in annuities and work from home as a consultant for five months while making his same pay as superintendent.

The amended contract enables Dr. Larke to retire as superintendent Oct. 31 and serve as consultant until March 31.

However, some board members said Friday they didn't actually see or read the whole contract before emerging from behind closed doors to vote on it.

"I think it's pretty ludicrous board members would approve a contract they hadn't had an opportunity to read," board member Jimmy Atkins said.

The board members who were directly involved in the negotiations might have been seen the contract, he said, but Mr. Atkins said he had not.

According to Mr. Atkins and fellow board member A.K. Hasan, school board attorney Pete Fletcher read "highlights" during Thursday's 40-minute, closed-door meeting.

The review preceded the 7-2 vote on the contract, which could be worth up to $277,000 to Dr. Larke because the contract is retroactive to July 1.

Mr. Atkins and Helen Minchew were the only dissenting votes.

Mr. Hasan said Mr. Fletcher "reviewed" the contract with board members and he saw no reason not to trust the attorney.

Fellow board member Ken Echols said in an e-mail Friday he wouldn't comment on what happened behind closed doors, but that he takes offense to the comments that trustees weren't aware of the details of the contract before voting.

Comments such as the ones made are a "direct insult to current and previous board members," he wrote in the e-mail.

Board member Eloise Curtis said contract talks have gone on throughout the summer.

"We knew what it was about. We didn't need anything in hand," Mrs. Curtis said.

As for board member Barbara Pulliam, she said she was happy to be wrapping things up.

"I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can see the end of this," she said Friday. "I'm pretty much satisfied with what happened because we've got to concentrate on our kids."

The amended contract allows Dr. Larke to receive monthly annuities based on performance evaluations.

Mrs. Pulliam said the annuities are a way to keep Dr. Larke on task as he works as a consultant.

State Rep. Quincy Murphy, D-Augusta, shared board members' sentiment, pleased that the conflict, which has simmered since last spring, appears to be over. Dr. Larke has a made a number of positive contributions to the community and it's time for the community to build on them, Mr. Murphy said.

"I'm hoping the community will come together now for the benefit of the children," he said.

Greg Collier, the president of the organization Parents United, had a different reaction.

"This is ridiculous. This is absolutely ridiculous," he said, calling it a "100 percent win" for Dr. Larke.

"Maybe they made a deal with the devil."