The Cobb County School Board approved an 18-month extension of Superintendent Michael Hinojosa’s contract during its meeting on Thursday.

The superintendent’s current contract with the Cobb County School District was set to expire June 30, but the board voted 5-2, with Kathleen Angelucci and David Banks opposing, to extend it by 18 months, or until Dec. 31, 2014.

“I’m excited,” Hinojosa said after the vote. “It’s certainly a great job, and I enjoy my job here and I enjoy working with all the people here, so I’m looking forward to another year and a half.”

The details of his contract will remain the same. He will continue to receive his base pay of $237,000, in addition to retirement benefits and moving, car and cellphone allowances, which brings his total annual salary to around $277,000.

Prior to approval of the recommended extension, Angelucci made a motion that the board suspend the vote until after the stakeholder surveys – done by parents, students, staff and Cobb County taxpayers – are completed and reviewed.

Her motion failed 5-2, with only support from Banks.

“I am disappointed,” Angelucci said about the lack of support from other board members on her motion. “I think it’s important that we show the stakeholders that we are supportive of their input. That’s the whole reason of having that survey.

“I also think it’s important for us to set dates that are connected to our goals. It’s important for there to be some sort of end, or stop date, that talks about, ‘Okay, this is where we started and this is where are since our only employee started to work for the district.’”

After the meeting, Banks said he opposes the contract extension because in the past, the superintendent’s direction and budget involved the district’s preserving the reserves rather than retaining employees.

“I anticipate him to head in the same direction again this year, and I oppose that,” he said.

The district is looking at a possible $80 million deficit in FY2014.

In other business at Thursday’s meeting, the board approved $8.5 million in contracts.

They approved renovations projects at Argyle Elementary, $740,000; Baker Elementary, $3.04 million; Harmony Leland Elementary, $443,800; and Nicholson Elementary, $504,965.

They also elected to purchase nine 2013 Ford Escapes for $200,331; security measure installations district-wide, $900,000; a grading system, $514,000; fiber installation, value to be determined; alternative educational services, $2.8 million; and occupational therapy services, $220,000.