HARVARD — After taking a re-vote of Superintendent Thomas Jefferson’s contract extension, through June 30, 2011, the School Committee unanimously re-voted to strike one section from the contract.
The section reads: “The committee in accordance with Section 15 of this agreement prior to commencement of each fiscal year, determine whether the superintendent has met and/or exceeded his goals and objectives for the previous fiscal year. Upon a determination that the superintendent has met and/or exceeded his goals and objective for the previous fiscal year, the committee shall, at the commencement of the next fiscal year, increase the superintendent’s salary a minimum of 2.5 percent. If a school budget override is passed for a given fiscal year, FY07 and beyond, the School Committee will grant the superintendent an increase based upon performance and taking into consideration the April 30 consumer price index for all urban consumers, provided that the consumer price index is greater than 2.5 percent. The maximum increase will be six percent.”
“Three consecutive years I’ve met or exceeded my goals and objectives,” Jefferson said. “I’ve never received a raise over 2.5 percent.”
Jefferson said he requested to have the clause stricken from his contract because some people accused him of padding the budget in order to receive a raise.
Although the negotiations had taken place during an executive session of the School Committee for non-union contract negotiations on Sept. 22, the vote was still required to take place in open session.
The committee also approved a 2.5 percent raise for Jefferson, in executive session. Committee member Keith Cheveralls abstained from the vote. — Gayle Simone
