The Henrico County School Board is extending the contract of county schools Superintendent Fred Morton IV for one year -- after which he will retire. The board made the announcement of the extension and Morton's retirement today after a three-hour closed session.

Morton's contract now lasts through June 30, 2009.

Morton, who was on hand for the announcement, said that when he started the Henrico job on Sept. 1, 2004, his goal was to retire as the county's superintendent of schools and the contract extension allows him to do that.

The county's former school board took no action last year to extend the contract and, by law, couldn't make any changes to it after the November elections.

The current five-member board has four newly elected members.