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RALEIGH – The Wake County school board did not make a decision Tuesday night on whether to fire superintendent Del Burns before his resignation was to be effective.

Burns told the board last week he would be resigning at the end of June. But some groups had called for his immediate removal after the superintendent criticized the direction of the new school board majority. Some board members had also questioned whether they could continue working with Burns for the next few months.

Board members spent more than an hour and half with their attorney talking about school system employees behind closed doors. The meeting was not open to the public because of confidential personnel issues.

The superintendent's contract states the board can terminate the contract after he gives written notice of his resignation, but he would be entitled to be paid through the date of his resignation.

Board member Anne McLaurin said Tuesday that Burns has been a "dedicated and devoted" public servant for the last three decades. He started in 1976 as an educator and worked his way up to become superintendent in July 2006.

"It has been my experience in this county that we have treated our public servants well," she said. "I think to consider doing anything less for Dr. Burns is not what this county should be doing or should even be thinking about."

Board member John Tedesco also said Tuesday morning that the board will "follow an appropriate process that respects the man and the institution that we have."

Wake school leaders say they will reconvene the closed session into the personnel issue on March 2. They have not yet specified a time.