East Providence School Committee backs modest administrator salary increases

Most receive between zero and two percent hikes in pay

By Mike Rego
Posted 10/23/19

EAST PROVIDENCE — The scheduled meeting of the School Committee Tuesday night, Oct. 22, lasted for nearly four hours, but was almost entirely spent out of public view in an executive …

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East Providence School Committee backs modest administrator salary increases

Most receive between zero and two percent hikes in pay

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The scheduled meeting of the School Committee Tuesday night, Oct. 22, lasted for nearly four hours, but was almost entirely spent out of public view in an executive session.

The only item on the agenda was a discussion of “personnel matters relating to job performance re: administrators.” In layman’s terms, the committee was presented with a list of district department heads whom Superintendent Kathryn Crowley wanted to extend their employ and provide increases in salary. The group included the entire central administration staff as well as all building principals and assistant principals.

Upon emerging after 8:30 p.m. from the session, which began as indicated on the agenda at 5 p.m., committee chairman Charlie Tsonos read out three votes taken on 5-0, 3-2 and 5-0 tallies. Then per Rhode Island General Law Section 42-46-(4)&(5), he requested and received approval from the rest of the body to seal the minutes of the session without comment.

The vote on the parameters of the private discussion was required to be done in an open session, however, and Mr. Tsonos presented it to the full body with one proviso.

“The only action item we have it to consider and vote to approve rollover of administrative and salary increase. I will add the words ‘as amended in executive session,’” Mr. Tsonos said.

Before the vote, Ward 2 member Tony Ferreira asked for clarification that the extensions and increases being considered were for just one year only. He was told they were. Upon that notice, the committee unanimously backed the terms of the agreements and next adjourned.

After the meeting, the chairman elaborated as much as he could about the session, saying he and his peers appreciate the efforts of staff, but need to maintain fiduciary responsibility now and going forward with an eye toward pending renegotiations of the district’s four collective bargaining agreements on the horizon for next calendar year. The contracts between the school department and the unions expire on October 31, 2020, at the conclusion of the city’s 2019-2020 fiscal year.

Mr. Tsonos said most of the approved salary increases were between zero and two percent with some employees receiving none at all.

“We held the line. We really are trying to keep our expenses in line,” Mr. Tsonos added. “We have very good people, but they have to understand also the city only has so much money, just like the state only has so much money. So we have to watch every penny. Obviously, the School Committee felt it was the way to go.”

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.