Mullica BOE approves raises for five school administrators

From The Press of Atlantic City, Friday, 1/22/2010. Diane D'Amico, Education Writer.

The Mullica Township Board of Education has approved new contracts with the district’s chief school administrator, business administrator, two principals and curriculum supervisor.

Board President Spiros Malaspina said the agreements include raises but also increase the amount the five affected employees will pay into their health benefits plan to 7 percent this year, 7.7 percent next year, and 8 percent in 2011-10.

“Our health insurance costs are going up 25 percent, so we asked them to pay more as well,” he said.

All three contracts are retroactive to July 1, 2009. Copies of the agreements were provided by the district.

Chief school administrator Richard Goldberg made $115,700 in 2008-09. He will receive a 2.38 percent increase for the current school year, 3 percent in 2010-11 and 2.5 percent in 2011-12.

Goldberg said he also receives $10,000 stipend for also serving as the administrator of the Washington Township School District in Burlington County under a shared-services agreement with Mullica. With the additional employee contribution to the benefits plan, he said his total increase is about 2 percent per year.

School Business Administrator Lourdes LaGuardia, who is in her second year with the district, made $85,000 in 2008-09. She will get a 4.8 percent increase this year under the one-year contract, plus pay more into the health benefits plan. She also receives a $12,000 stipend to work as the business administrator for Washington Township as well.

Her new contract also includes a $15,000 cap on reimbursement for unused sick time at retirement, and no reimbursement if she leaves the district. Her vacation days will increase from 12 to 16 and she is eligible for tuition reimbursement.

The two principals and curriculum supervisor in the Principals and Supervisors Association will receive raises of 3.7 percent this year, 3.8 percent in 2010-11 and 3.9 percent in 2011-12. Their 2008-09 salaries were $106,000, $93,700 and $92,200.

The district has also renewed for three more years its shared-services agreement with Washington Township. That small K-8 district of 75 students pays Mullica for administrative and child study team services. Goldberg said they also share teacher training, technology and music programs, and other management services.

Mullica’s board is still negotiating with its teachers union, whose contract also expired in July 2009. Malaspina said insurance costs are one of the issues, and they are hoping the new administrative contracts can set an example for the teachers’ contract.