OXFORD – The Oxford Board of Education met on Tuesday night to decide whether or not to grant High School Principal Christine Pierce tenure.

At last week’s board meeting, more than 20 teachers, students and community members spoke out in support of Pierce. In light of their statements, the board decided to hold off on a decision until yesterday.

The board entered executive session to discuss Pierce’s contract at 6 p.m. At 6:50, members returned and approved the personnel consent agenda. A member of the community asked the board to read each of the items approved. Two of those items involved Pierce.

Board President Robin DeBrita announced that the board accepted a letter of resignation from Pierce in the tenure area of school administrator, effective June 16, 2009. Pierce was then appointed to a new tenure area as high school principal, with a three year probationary period, in effect until June 16, 2012. The move will give Pierce three more years to be granted tenure. DeBrita explained that tenure could be granted at any time during that period, with a letter of recommendation from Superintendent Randall Squier.