By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

HOOVER — Hoover City Schools superintendent Andy Craig had his contract extended by one year after the Hoover Board of Education gave him high marks in its annual evaluation.

His contract now runs until June 30, 2014.

The board said Craig more than met expectations in every category he was rated in, including relationship with the board, community relations, superintendent/staff relationships, business and finance, educational leadership, personal qualities and achievement of goals determined by the board of education.

Craig was given a score from 1-3 in each category, with 1 meaning “does not meet expectations” and 3 meaning “exceeds expectations.”

Craig’s strongest category was business and finance, where he scored a perfect 3. His weakest category was relationship with the board, where he scored a 2.2 — barely above “meets expectations.”

In the superintendent evaluation, board members anonymously complimented Craig on his business and leadership skills.

One board member said Craig’s financial skills were a boon to the district. Craig has an accounting background, with time at two accounting firms before making the jump to school system administration.

“(He) skillfully led the school system through the debt refinancing, which will save the school system a significant amount of money,” the member said. “It’s proven to be important that we have a financial leader at the helm during a financial crisis.”

Craig has been the Hoover City Schools superintendent since June 2006.