EAST BRUNSWICK – The proposed contract extension for Superintendent of Schools Jo Ann Magistro includes raises, but not certain allowances that would total thousands of dollars.
The Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the contract at its July 24 meeting.
Though the board declined Greater Media Newspapers’ request for a copy, the document was supplied by another source. The contract indicates that Magistro and the board agreed to enter into a new deal earlier than necessary “in the interest of administrative stability within the East Brunswick school district.” Magistro’s current contract would not have expired until June 2009.
The proposal would eliminate two components that were included in Magistro’s previous contract, including an $8,000-per-year allowance for pension and contributory insurance costs, and an $8,400 car allowance.
The new contract would be for five years, starting this month and expiring in June 2013. It replaces the remaining year on her current contract.
The proposed contract states that Magistro’s “total compensation” for the school year that just ended was $201,400, and that figure was used as the basis for the 4 percent increase proposed in the new deal, bringing her salary for the coming school year to $209,040.
The contract also states that beginning July 1, 2009, her annual increase would be no less than the percentage given to her union, the East Brunswick Principals and Supervisors Association, or 2 percent less, based on performance. The board would review Magistro’s performance each March and discuss it with her.I
n terms of benefits, Magistro would receive the “standard health package” offered by the school district, including the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield prescription and dental coverage for herself and her family. Magistro would also receive at least 16 paid holidays per year, and no less than 24 vacation days.
However, due to statewide regulatory changes, she would no longer be able to accumulate vacation days over a long period of time. The contract states that they must be used no later than June 30 of the following year.
“For example, days earned through June 30 of year one must be used by June 30 of year two,” the contract states.
The contract also states that she can be paid for earned, unused days, if certain requirements are met. She would be paid for each day at a rate of 1/240th of her salary. The same formula holds for days unused at the time of her retirement or separation from the district.
As for sick leave, she would earn 12 days per year, and they can accumulate throughout her tenure. Upon her retirement, she would be compensated for each day at the rate of $170 per day, not to exceed $15,000, the proposed contract states. She also would receive three personal days, and unused personal days will be transferred into her vacation leave bank at the end of each school year.
The contract also states that Magistro will “be reimbursed by the Board of Education for all appropriate business expenditures incurred by her in the normal course of her employment.”
Under the miscellaneous section, the contract states that, in the event a state or federal law invalidates a provision for salary or benefits, “the value of said perquisite or the benefit shall be automatically added to the superintendent’s base salary.”