04/02/08

Dracut School Commmittee and Superintendent-Elect Mullen sign contract, saving Dracut taxpayers money  


D.J. Deeb, Dracut School Committee

As I’m 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. Mullen’s 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 Dracut’s 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 Superintendent’s contract, approved in 2002, and the new Superintendent-Elect’s contract that was just approved and signed on March 4. 

TERM OF CONTRACT

Superintendent-elect Mullen’s contract (2008-2011) - 3 years (2008-2011) with no roll-over provision
Current Superintendent Espindle’s contract - 6 years (2002-2008) base salary

Superintendent-elect Mullen’s contract (2008-2011) - $130,000
Current Superintendent Espindle’s contract (2002-2008) - $140,146
ANNUITY BENEFIT

ANUITY BENEFIT

Superintendent-elect Mullen’s contract (2008-2011) - None
Current Superintendent Espindle’s contract (2002-2008) - $20,000 per year

TRAVEL ALLOWANCE

Superintendent-elect Mullen’s contract (2008-2011) - Reasonable travel reimbursement only with receipts

Current Superintendent Espindle’s contract (2002-2008) - $2,000 annually without voucher + additional reimbursement with receipts   

TERMINATION OF CONTRACT BY COMMITTEE

Superintendent-elect Mullen’s 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 Espindle’s 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 Mullen’s contract (2008-2011) - 120 days notice to Committee
Current Superintendent Espindle’s contract (2002-2008) - 120 days notice to Committee

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
Superintendent-elect Mullen’s contract (2008-2011) - None
Current Superintendent Espindle’s contract (2002-2008) - One course per semester at UMass

HOLIDAY LEAVE
Superintendent-elect Mullen’s contract (2008-2011) - All holidays available to other staff
Current Superintendent Espindle’s contract (2002-2008) - All holidays available to other staff

VACATION TIME
Superintendent-elect Mullen’s contract (2008-2011) - 25 days per year, with maximum carryover of 50 days
Current Superintendent Espindle’s contract (2002-2008) - 25 days per year, with total accumulation of 60 days

SICK LEAVE
Superintendent-elect Mullen’s 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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