Dracut School Commmittee and
Superintendent-Elect Mullen sign
contract, saving Dracut taxpayers money
D.J. Deeb,
Dracut School Committee
As Im sure most Dracut
residents now know, the Dracut School
Committee signed the new Superintendent
Contract with Superintendent-Elect Dr. W.
Spencer Mullen on Tuesday evening, March
4th.
Both sides agree that this is a
bare bones contract in the
words of both Dracut School Committee
Labor Attorney, Ed Morris, and
Superintendent-Elect Dr. Mullens
Attorney, Howard Greenspan. Members
of the Dracut School Committee
unanimously approved this fiscally
responsible contract that is both fair to
Dr. Mullen and protects the interests of
Dracuts taxpayers, while saving the
Dracut Public School District a
significant amount of money.
Often we hear newspaper editorialists
commenting that the salaries and benefits
being offered to superintendents and
school administrators are
excessive. Well, the Dracut School
Committee, in conjunction with Dr.
Mullen, is setting a new and positive
trend.
The current Superintendent contract was
approved in 2002 for a 6-year period
ending on June 30, 2008. As has
been reported previously, Superintendent
Elaine Espindle chose not to seek a
contract extension in Dracut, paving the
way for a search for a new Superintendent
that began this past summer.
Since I have only been part of the Dracut
School Committee for the past three
years, this is the first Superintendent
contract that I have had input on.
I must say that I am very excited and
pleased to have been able to help deliver
this along with my colleagues in
Dracut. Superintendent-Elect Mullen
must also be commended for demonstrating
that he trusts the community and the
people that he will be working
with.
In the meantime, Dr. Mullen will
transition into Dracut beginning April
1st through June 30th on a part-time
basis for 10 hours per week at the
consulting rate of $65.00 per hour.
This means that we do not have to pay two
superintendents, saving Dracut tax-payers
even more money. Hopefully, this too will
begin a new trend across the state.
This transitional consulting contract
will enable Dr. Mullen to finish the end
of the school year in Woburn until June
30, while also having the opportunity to
meet school district employees, attend
PTO functions and after-school events,
familiarize himself with the school
district budget, and review district
policies and procedures until he takes
over officially as Superintendent on July
1.
Below is a comparison/contrast chart that
highlights the major provisions in the
current Superintendents contract,
approved in 2002, and the new
Superintendent-Elects contract that
was just approved and signed on March
4.
TERM OF CONTRACT
Superintendent-elect Mullens
contract (2008-2011) - 3 years
(2008-2011) with no roll-over provision
Current Superintendent Espindles
contract - 6 years (2002-2008) base
salary
Superintendent-elect Mullens
contract (2008-2011) - $130,000
Current Superintendent Espindles
contract (2002-2008) - $140,146 ANNUITY BENEFIT
ANUITY BENEFIT
Superintendent-elect
Mullens contract (2008-2011) - None
Current Superintendent Espindles
contract (2002-2008) - $20,000 per year
TRAVEL ALLOWANCE
Superintendent-elect Mullens
contract (2008-2011) - Reasonable travel
reimbursement only with receipts
Current Superintendent Espindles
contract (2002-2008) - $2,000 annually
without voucher + additional
reimbursement with
receipts
TERMINATION OF CONTRACT BY
COMMITTEE
Superintendent-elect Mullens
contract (2008-2011) - For Good
Cause by a 4/5 School Committee
vote with due process and 14 days Notice.
No automatic buyout provision.
Current Superintendent Espindles
contract (2002-2008) - For
Felonious or gross misconduct
and 120 days notice. The
superintendent. receives automatic buyout
of remainder of contract
TERMINATION OF CONTRACT BY
SUPERINTENDENT
Superintendent-elect Mullens
contract (2008-2011) - 120 days notice to
Committee
Current Superintendent Espindles
contract (2002-2008) - 120 days notice to
Committee
TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
Superintendent-elect Mullens
contract (2008-2011) - None
Current Superintendent Espindles
contract (2002-2008) - One course per
semester at UMass
HOLIDAY LEAVE
Superintendent-elect Mullens
contract (2008-2011) - All holidays
available to other staff
Current Superintendent Espindles
contract (2002-2008) - All holidays
available to other staff
VACATION TIME
Superintendent-elect Mullens
contract (2008-2011) - 25 days per year,
with maximum carryover of 50 days
Current Superintendent Espindles
contract (2002-2008) - 25 days per year,
with total accumulation of 60 days
SICK LEAVE
Superintendent-elect Mullens
contract (2008-2011) - 15 days per year,
with maximum accumulation of 45 days
Current Superintendent Espindle contract
(2002-2008) - 18 days per year, with
unlimited accumulation
The Town of Dracut is indeed fortunate to
have such an outstanding educator taking
over as Superintendent of Dracut Public
Schools this summer.
Dr. Mullen, a Dracut native who now
resides in Chelmsford, has been a well
respected teacher in Dracut Public
Schools for over 20 years and an
administrator in Dracut, Haverhill, and
Woburn.
We welcome Dr. Mullen and wish him the
best of luck in his new position.
We look forward to working with Dr.
Mullen to move Dracut schools forward in
a positive direction that benefits the
students, teachers, administrators,
staff, parents, and taxpayers.
D.J. Deeb is an adjunct Professor of
History and Government at Bunker Hill
Community College and a Political Science
Instructor at the University of
Massachusetts Lowell. He teaches Social
Studies full-time at Reading Memorial
High School. He is an elected member of
the Dracut School Committee and Greater
Lowell Regional Vocational-Technical
School Committee. You can email him
at djdeeb@yahoo.com
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