The Board of Education voted to increase the superintendent of schools’ contracted salary by three percent and to extend his contract by one year at its special meeting on Wednesday, June 24.

The decision came among a series of votes on agenda items before the board heard from the public regarding the possibility of closing Hawley Elementary School due to declining enrollment for the 2016-17 year. The board later voted not to close a school for the 2016-17 school year and to continue its discussion about the best use of district facilities.

This week Board of Education Chair Keith Alexander said he believes his board did the “right thing” when it decided to study the possibility of closing a school over the summer months, and it also did the right thing when it decided to not close a school for the 2016-17 school year.

During the June 24 meeting the board also approved a two percent salary increase for nonunion employees, and a two percent increase and a one-year contract extension for the district’s Director of Business Ron Bienkowski.

Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, earned $195,000 for the 2014-15 year, and the three percent increase will go into effect for the 2015-16 school year, raising his annual salary to $200,850.

“I’m very thankful for his service, and I am in favor of the increases that we have given him,” said Board of Education Vice Chair Laura Roche before the vote.

The motion to approve Dr Erardi’s contract extension and increase passed in a 5 to 1 vote, with board Secretary Kathy Hamilton voting against the motion. Board member David Freedman was not present for the meeting.

While Ms Hamilton said she could not support the increase, she said she does support Dr Erardi for the work he has done in the school district.

Following the meeting Mr Alexander said the vote on the superintendent’s contract came after multiple meetings and a written evaluation the board completed regarding the superintendent.

According to Mr Alexander, the board wanted to show appreciation to Dr Erardi for his “really excessive work over the past year.”

Mr Alexander said the board is expecting Dr Erardi to continue the practice of creating goals for the coming year, which will be reviewed by the board during a public meeting.

Overall, Mr Alexander said he is pleased with the work Dr Erardi is doing for the district.

The superintendent, Mr Alexander said, has “always been available and responsive… and that is a key need of our district at the moment. He is doing that very well.”

This was Dr Erardi’s first contract review since starting in the district in April 2014. The board’s practice is to hold a review of the superintendent by the end of June, after starting the process with a self-evaluation in May.

Reflecting on the efforts made to find a permanent superintendent for the district, Mr Roche said on Tuesday, June 30, “When I chaired the Superintendent Search Committee, the board knew we needed to find someone special to lead the Newtown school district. The new superintendent had several jobs to take on. It was not a normal search.”

Ms Roche also said she is thankful for the all Dr Erardi has done in the district and for the community in his first year.

“His leadership is one to celebrate and appreciate. I put together a ‘small’ list of initiatives/programs Dr Erardi has either tirelessly worked on or brought new to the district. Many of the listed programs were promised when he was interviewed. Dr Erardi, in my opinion, has gone above and beyond what he promised to deliver... all in one year.”

 The list Ms Roche shared included Dr Erardi’s efforts with the district’s Administrative Leadership Team, the Aspiring Administrators’ Cohort, board policies, budget development, civic organization meetings, Climate and Culture Committee, communication, curriculum and instruction, the Department of Justice grant, the most recent enrollment study, a facilities study, the district kindergarten to twelfth grade Gifted and Talented Education Students (GATES) program, negotiations with multiple labor groups, the new Sandy Hook School building project, the New Teacher Cohort, the Newtown High School Auditorium project, professional development, the Profiles in Professionalism awards, working with PTAs and the local PTSA, recovery, the Scholars’ Luncheon Program at Newtown High School, security, senior citizen partnerships, the School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) grant, the student and staff Celebration of Excellence program, technology, and attending town meetings.

The school board’s written evaluation of Dr Erardi also highlighted the superintendent’s strengths, like being an “excellent communicator who keeps both the board and the community informed,” his open office hours, efforts to engage community volunteers, his management of the budget preparation and presentation, his ability to bring community members together, his honesty and professionalism, and “the superintendent has spent a lot of time to ensure that the district has a comprehensive program of student services, including guidance, social work, and psychology.”

The written evaluation also included “opportunities” the superintendent can work on, like improving the district’s program alignments “both vertically and horizontally;” working toward better in-school communication, “including connections with the individual PTAs;” and the board requested feedback on student matters that it has ruled on along with “consultations on decisions that impact policy, process, and services.”

Farewell To The Assistant Superintendent

Dr Erardi closed out the board’s June 24 meeting by wishing Assistant Superintendent Linda Gejda “the absolute best as she moves forward.”

The June 24 meeting was Dr Gejda’s final meeting in the district. Her final day in her position as assistant superintendent was Tuesday, June 30.

Dr Gejda was hired by the Board of Education to fill the position of assistant superintendent in April 2007. She was appointed to be the assistant superintendent in Stratford during that board’s April 27 meeting this year.

Mr Alexander said he has been pleased with Dr Gejda as an employee. He said she is excellent and knowledgeable about the field of education.

“It’s going to be difficult to replace her [with] her kind of information background,” said Mr Alexander.

He also said she will be missed, but he hopes to replace her with someone of similar quality.

“I hope things work out well for her,” said Mr Alexander.