130K an insult? Maybe to the Taxpayers
By admin on Jan 24, 2010 in Massachusetts Elections, Schools
The discussion this week on 980 WCAP’s Saturday Morning Live started out with an analysis of the Scott Brown results in town.
Warren Shaw took the case, that it was not just about Republicans but also the combination of terrorism, the health care plan, and general anger out there among the voters with government.
One big change in Dracut with regard to this election is that Don Morowski is now the “goto” guy when the Senator needs something from Dracut. Morowski was working hard every day over at that Littleton office to help Scott Brown win.
In the past, it was Mike Blatus who had that “connection” with Sen Kennedy’s office.. now the torch is passed.
The big story in Dracut this week was the process surrounding the search for a new Superintendent of Schools for the Greater Lowell Tech High School.
The Lowell Sun newspaper article on the issue of the pay scale being discussed opened with a quote by our own Rep Victor Olson saying that the salary of $130,000 would be “insulting” to a candidate.
Those applying to be the next superintendent of Greater Lowell Technical High School would find a salary less than $130,000 “insulting,” said School Committee member Victor Olson of Dracut.
School officials’ debate on salary range seemed to center at times on setting a price above the current salary for Mary Jo Santoro, the vocational school’s assistant superintendent and principal.
I guess he missed the point of last Tuesday’s election.
In my opinion, hiring any candidate with that attitude would be an insult to the taxpayers of Dracut.
“All eyes are on this school right now,” Shaw said “and some admit they blew it” with regard to Superintendent Cassin’s contract.
Over at the Dracut School committee race, we hear that as Ken Martin (of Dracut Housing Authority fame) considers running, the first question he asks potential supporters is “Are you with the Shaw camp?”
Maybe what he should be asking is “are you with anyone who pays attention to whats happening in town?”
The “Shaw Camp,” I am assuming, seems to be made up of Sun reporters, bloggers, and anyone who watches the committees and questions what is going on. be it good or bad.
Once again, this “group politics” thing is part of what last Tuesday’s election was about. Just be up front, open and transparent and people will trust you.
Attached is an audio clip of our Dracut discussion, and then a clip of Don Morowski calling in to the show later..
Dracut discussion on WCAP [8:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Don Morowski Calls in to Respond [3:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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Victor A. Olson | Jan 24, 2010 | Reply
http://www.masc.org/supcr_frm.asp
A listing of current Supt searches on the MASC website can be reviewed from site link above for reference. These are not all the searches but represent the MASC assisted searches and give you an idea of what other district searches you are competing with are looking for. The current search salaries of the other districts run from a range low of $130,000 to a range high of $200,000.
Mr Gilbert from MASC suggested a salary range of $150,000 to $165,000 to GLTHS school committee by e-mail to be competitive with the over 40 school districts looking for superintendents. This is the same range he recommended to the Dracut School Committee although they voted an advertised range between $140,000 and $160,000. North Reading also went along with the $150,000 to $165,000 range.Tyngsboro Superintendent currently at $142,500 is also a finalist at Masconomet after being in Tyngsboro less than 2 years. Mr. Gilbert also indicated that the 2009 statewide average for school superintendents is $142,500 with a range of salaries between $130,000 and $170,000 in eastern Massachusetts for 2009. (Average $150,000)
There were several items in the Lowell SUN article that were totally misrepresented and would expect a correction was noted in the SUN for not correctly reporting the vote.
One Item is that I never said those applying to be the next superintendent of Greater Lowell Technical High School would find a salary less than $130,000 “insulting,” What I did is respond to is a collegue’s suggestion during discussions to a $110,000 low end of salary range and that a candidate for Superintendent would find that as “insulting” if offered the position given that assistant superintendents and administrators in districts throughout the area are at or more than that salary and you would not likely attract any outside interest. A salary of $130,000 is where most likely you would begin to generate outside candidate interest with the qualifications and licenses required. The $130,000 salary is where Dracut Supt. Mr Mullen is currently at and is the third from the bottom in salary for Superintendents in the region.
The Sun also misrepresented the subcommittee vote and initially reported it wrong as well. The motions and votes as they will be recorded in the minutes are as follows.
Mr O’Neil Made a Motion to set the advertised salary range between $120,000 and $160,000. The Motion failed due to lack of second.
Mr. Lenzi then made a Motion to set the advertised Salary range between $125,000 and $165,000 and was seconded by Mr. O’Hare. Motion failed. Lenzi and O’Hare YES, O’Neil and Olson NO.
Mr. O’Neil made another Motion to set the advertised salary range between $125,000 and $160,000 salary cap for top candidates and was seconded by Mr Olson. Mr Lenzi was the only opposing Vote.
Initially I had suggested a tighter range of $130,000 to $155,000 centered around the $142,500 state average would be competitive and may generate interest of some very qualified candidates however it did not have any support during discusions.
There were never any discussions surrounding any particular persons salaries and if the reporter reported that then that was her personal bias. Currently there are no candidates until an appilcation is formally submitted.
This was only a subcommittee vote and I would not be surprised if some members may look to revisit the advertised range with the discussion of the full board.
Brian Flaherty | Jan 24, 2010 | Reply
Oh man, if Martin runs for School Committee it would be a blogger’s dream! This will be fun