Schools

School Board Approves Central Administrator Contracts

A single board member voted against all three employment agreements, citing lack of personnel committee meeting beforehand

The contracts of three Toms River school administrators were approved this week by the Board of Education, though one member opposed the employment agreements because a newly-formed personnel committee was not given a chance to meet and discuss the terms. 

Business Administrator William Doering and Assistant Superintendents Debra McKenna and James Hauenstein were all approved for one year contracts when the the board met Tuesday. Loreen Torrone, a board member who championed the committee which was formed in March, was the lone "no" vote.

"No, until there's a personnel committee (meeting)," she said when casting her vote for McKenna's contract, the first of the three to be considered. Torrone went on to vote against the other two administrator contracts, citing the lack of a committee meeting. 

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Though board members voted in March to form a personnel committee, it has not yet met. Torrone, a "Clean Slate" board member, was a proponent of establishing that oversight body since her election in 2011. 

All three contracts span July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014. The salaries remain the same as in the 2012-13 contracts. 

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Doering’s annual salary is proposed to remain at $173,400; Hauenstein's at $158,100; and McKenna's at $172,380, according to the contracts. Each administrator is eligible for health benefits and varying amounts of vacation time and sick days. 

All of the contracts were reviewed by the Ocean County superintendent's office and recommended for approval, according to Board of Education documents. 

Though she voted yes to all three of the contracts, board member Ginny Rhine also expressed a concern that the personnel committee had not met to consider the contracts. 

"I'm just disappoint that we were unable to have a personnel committee meeting beforehand," Rhine said when voting for McKenna's contract. 

The 2011 vote on Hauenstein’s contract spawned a flurry of public statements from then newly-elected board members Ben Giovine, Loreen Torrone and Alex Pavliv, who said a personnel committee would be in the best interest of all parties involved in the process, including the district’s taxpayers.

Doering's contract provides for 25 days paid vacation, all of which can be carried over to subsequent years. However, the contract states a payout not to exceed 50 vacation days would be available upon retirement. Doering is allowed 15 paid sick days and five personal days and a payout of unused sick time upon retirement cannot exceed $15,000.

McKenna receives $15,000 for the year to place into a tax-deferred annuity. She has 25 days paid vacation, all of which can be carried over to subsequent years. However, the contract states a payout not to exceed 50 vacation days would be available upon retirement. McKenna is allowed 15 paid sick days and five personal days — her payout of unused sick time upon retirement cannot exceed $15,000.

Hauenstein receives 20 days paid vacation, all of which can be carried over to subsequent years. However, the contract states a payout not to exceed 40 vacation days would be available upon retirement. Hauenstein is allowed 12 paid sick days and five personal days. Payout of unused sick time upon retirement cannot exceed $15,000.

All of the contracts state that the administrators are entitled to health benefits, such as major medical, prescription, vision and dental plans. They all are required to make contributions to those plans. 

Last year, Interim Assistant Superintendent Joseph Pizza was awarded a 260-day contract for the 2012-13 school year. He is not returning for the 2013-14 school year and the district is in the process of finding another interim employee to fill that role. 

Superintendent Frank Roselli will not complete his two-year contract approved last year but will retire effective this June 30, citing health concerns. The Board of Education is searching for an interim superintendent while they find a permanent replacement. 


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