School Board Debates, Grants Tenure And Extensions

by Steve Yablonski | May 22, 2008 6:22 am

OSWEGO, NY – The Oswego school board granted tenure to two elementary principals Tuesday night.

The board approved tenure for Mary Volkomer and Linda Doty and also approved Bonnie Finnerty as the new principal at the middle school (as of July).

Then the board members voted 4-3 to accept Doty’s resignation (as of Aug. 31).

Board member Dave White noted that usually the board would discuss hiring new principals in an executive session and questioned why this wasn’t the case Tuesday.

Board President Maggie Tiballi pointed out the members received information in their packets and had a chance to ask any questions they might have.

White and board member Dan Hoefer also took exception to the “high” starting salary ($85,000).

White, Hoefer and board member Sean Madden cast the no votes to hire the new principal and to accept Doty’s resignation.

When Tiballi asked if there were any comments regarding the resolution on Doty, Madden exclaimed, “This is a crime!”

“I’m against Linda’s resignation because I know for a fact she’s the right person for Fitzhugh Park (elementary school),” he said later.

The board was split by the same margin a few moments later.

The board narrowly passed professional staff salary adjustments and contract renewal / extensions for the three assistant superintendents: Bill Crist, Cathy Chamberlain and Peter Colucci.

The four percent increase (for performance recognition in the 2007-08 school year) for the trio would begin as of July 1.

The extensions are from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2013 for Crist; July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013 for Colucci; and Sept. 7, 2010 through June 30, 2013 for Chamberlain.

White again noted this was something that should have been done in executive session.

A motion to table failed.

Tiballi presented data regarding the salaries of assistant superintendents in 20 other comparable school districts.

Sixteen of them had an assistant superintendent that made more than $110,000, she noted.

Oswego’s assistant superintendents have gone through “a very difficult year and have done very well,” she said.

“These salaries are not out of line,” she said of the proposals for the Oswego trio. “These salaries are what anybody else in the area could expect to be paid.”

It wouldn’t be fair to deny them a raise when other district employees are getting a raise, she added.

White pointed out that the average salaries of the individuals paying the bills isn’t $100,000.

“Once in a while you have to think of them,” he said.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/fulton/school-board-debates-grants-tenure-and-extensions/

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