The School Committee this evening had a short agenda.
Destination ImagiNation

Destination ImagiNation Team
First of all, we had the kids from the Dracut High School Destination Imagination report back on their trip to the Global Competition. The kids took the opportunity to thanks the community and the board for supporting the team. Dr. Mike McNamara once again congratulated the team on such a job well done, and Bonnie Elie made the point that the team made Dracut proud.
We’ll have to watch this team and see what comes of them next year.
Superintendent Items
We heard the last report from Superintendent Espindle. Mostly, she spoke about summer school programs at the Senior and Junior High Schools that are still open for registration, the continued training of teachers on anti-bullying, and a list of end of year programs at the various schools.
The board took one more opportunity to thank her for her coming back to help the district over these four months, and for her help during the upcoming transition.
New Superintendent
As we went into the New Business section of the meeting, we came to the contract for incoming Superintendent Dr. Stacy Scott.

Dr Scott presented some Middie Apparel
Board member Ron Mercier brought up his disagreement with a part of section 6 of the contract:
The Superintendent, with prior approval from teh School Committee Chair, may undertake consultative work, for his personal renumeration, speaking engagements, writing, lecturing, or other professional duties and obligations, provided such activities do not in any manner interfere with the performance of the duties and responsibilities as Superintendent. Such approval shall be given reasonably and in good faith.
Mercier did not like that the Chair of the committee was given the ability to approve such activities, and wanted the entire board to have to vote on such.
Counsel Ed Morris pointed out that a lengthy discussion had been held on this issue during the negotiation meetings (one that Mercier had missed) and in the end the board had decided on this wording.
A considerably uncomfortable argument ensued between Mercier and other members of the board about his bringing this up now. Member Bonnie Elie (back after her recent health scare at town meeting) actually got to the point of saying that “at least I read my informational packets at home to prepare for the meetings, not five minutes before as Mr Mercier does.”
This discussion pointed out, once again, that the board is not in lockstep.. but does argue its issues out in public.
After discussion, the board voted to leave the contract as is; and allowed the Chair to sign it on behalf of the board.
I will get the contract up at a later time, but in summary it is a 3 year term with no rollover provision. The annual rate of pay is $152,500.00 with a possible annual salary adjustment based on a performance evaluation and market forces.
He will get 15 sick days annually, that can only accumulate up to 45 maximum (in case the contract is continued), with a buy-back of only 35% of the unused days.
He will also get 25 vacation days a year, but can only carry forward 5 a year; and once again the vacation “shall be subject to the approval of the Chair of the Committee.” (I guess Mercier didn’t see that one).
In total, the salary is within the range agreed upon before this whole process started, and the sick-time and vacation benefits have been limited so that they cannot become unwieldly costs when he leaves one day.
Dr. Scott has been invited to appear on 980 WCAP’s Saturday Morning Live program this Saturday morning.

Miles presents flowers to Espindle
Espindle Consultancy
A simple consultancy contract was also signed with outgoing Superintendent Elaine Espindle allowing for her to work as an independent consultant at a rate of $100 per hour.
The term of this contract ends at the end of September and is limited to a total of 42 hours spread over that period of time.
At the end of the meeting, Member Mike Miles presented Espindle with flowers, once again thanking her for her efforts.