The addendum to the Superintendent's contract approved by the Newburgh School District BOE on October 25, allows the Superintendent to "liquidate" up to 38 unused vacation days. If "liquidate" means to receive payment for, then the Superintendent may be receiving up to $27,700. For details, and info about many other contracts the Newburgh District has entered into, please see the contracts page. As always, any corrections are appreciated.
Sneaking in those raises; taking care of their own!
According to the contract Pizzo received a salary of $188,027 for 2010-2011 then takes a cut in the current year to $175,000. Looks like the Super does care about taxpayers and the needs of the district. But Wait! He now works a deal with the Board President Fucheck, he so proudly lauded in his Letter to the Editors of several newspapers some weeks ago, and he comes away with a $17,500 "option" if he does not use all of his vacation days. Making Pizzo's potential salary for 2011-12; $192,500
This action speaks to the true and somewhat less than honest intentions of the board and Pizzo. Rather than being honest and negotiating for the higher $192,500 in his original contract, BOE Fucheck and Pizzo worked out a public relations slight of hand. This all may be legal, but hardly transparent. Just like the raises given to administartors and their staffs without listing the names and raises given. This action comes on the heels of the other sneaky actions of handing out retirement bonuses to two employees who are suspected of failing to do their jobs and escaping any accountability in regards to the recent basketball scandal.
Another concern is why allow any employee to cash in vacation days? They are there to be used as agreed. If there are enough to cash in then too many were allowed to begin with. If those vacation days have to be forfeited because of administrative needs then it could be argued that Pizzo is a poor superintendent who is less than cable of managing and delegating duties and handling his responsibilities in a timely manner.
Which brings us to PIZZO's duties. The BOE appears to once again have failed to pin down just what Pizzo and possibly other administrator's goals and objectives are for the salary and benefits they enjoy. To simply refer to his duties to follow the NYS laws and regulations is failing to specify what are the specific priorities and needs of the district and holding PIZZO and the others accountable. Once again the BOE appears incompetent as to its major functions and responsibilities to students and taxpayers. What they are competent at doing is the politics of taking care of their own interests.