Mattituck school chief’s raises cut back
In light of the new property tax cap, Mattituck-Cutchogue School Superintendent James McKenna has agreed to halve his scheduled raises for the next two years.
Mr. McKenna’s contract, which was to expire in 2014, has been extended another two years. Although he was to receive yearly pay hikes of 3.5 percent for each of the next two years, on Thursday the school board approved a new four-year deal with raises of 1.75 percent in each of the next four years.
Mr. McKenna will also pay 20 percent of his medical insurance premiums, up from 15 percent.
Under the new contract, he will earn $187,754 in the 2012-13 school year. The following year he will earn $190,988, $194,222 in 2014-15 and $197,457 the following year.
“It is a privilege to continue to work for the betterment of the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District, and I think this is a contract that makes sense and is fair for everyone in this economic climate — the district, the community and myself,” said Mr. McKenna on Friday.
Although the details of the contract were not released until after Thursday’s board meeting, one resident in attendance questioned ever-increasing administration expenses. Farber Fenowski told the board the school could do without two separate principals and a superintendent.
“You need sergeants in the army, not generals,” he said. “It’s time to get tough because we’re running out of time. The lord is not happy.”
During the meeting the board adopted the $38 million budget that will go before voters May 15. It includes a spending increase of 1.72 percent above last year with a tax rate increase of 2.19 percent.
