Divided FAMU board approves contract for president

TALLAHASSEE — Trustees who oversee Florida A&M University are finally approving a contract for the school's new president.

The FAMU board voted Thursday to approve a $425,000-a-year contract for Elmira Mangum. Mangum is vice president for budget and planning for Cornell University.

But the vote was not unanimous. During a contentious 2 ½ hour meeting, several trustees raised questions about perks included in the three-year contract. A majority of trustees voted down proposed changes.

This was the third meeting the board held to discuss the contract. Mangum rejected some of the changes that had previously been proposed.

Mangum's proposed base salary is nearly $84,000 higher than what FAMU paid James Ammons, who abruptly resigned in 2012 amid the fallout after the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion.