NORTHFIELD — Discussion of the Pioneer Valley Regional School District’s fiscal year 2023 budget turned heated on the topics of flawed communication and administrator wage increases as the Selectboard met with school officials Tuesday evening.
The $15.23 million budget represents a 2.54% increase over fiscal year 2022’s figures. Northfield’s assessment increased by 1.72% to roughly $4.75 million. While the budget was approved by the School Committee in March, the Selectboard didn’t receive the final budget until last week, according to Selectboard Chair Heath Cummings, who said it came at the “11th hour.”
School Committee Chair Julie Burke responded with confusion, noting that the budgeting process calendar had been publicly posted and that the Selectboard had been invited to each of the committee’s meetings in which the budget had been discussed.
“I really would like to take this opportunity to set some expectations because there was clearly a miscommunication along the way,” Burke said to the board.
She framed this as a two-way issue, communicating that school officials had not been invited to participate in some discussions between the Selectboard and Finance Committee and were therefore unaware of some feelings expressed. Throughout the conversation, though, Burke reassured the Selectboard that her heart remains appropriately engaged as not only the School Committee’s head, but as a taxpayer and parent.
“I need you to trust that I am acting in the best interest of the school district, as well as Northfield,” she said.
Upon shifting to discuss line items in the budget, Selectboard member Mary Bowen questioned the integrity of the committee’s priorities. Her primary grievance centered around salary increases for administrators. This category is highlighted by a 13% increase in the superintendent salary allocation from $140,018 in FY22 to $158,100 in FY23. Bowen, interpreting this as a major increase, criticized the change as being morally corrupt and disrespectful to the “true heroes” in teachers.
“How, in good conscience, could you do that?” Bowen directed toward Burke, visibly and audibly upset.
Burke explained that the discrepancy accounts for more context than a roughly $18,000 increase alone implies. She said that, at the time of former Superintendent Jonathan Scagel’s abrupt resignation in the summer of 2021, he was in the third year of his five-year contract making $140,018. The district then looked to hire a more experienced candidate than first-time superintendent Scagel, which would reasonably cost up to $165,000, according to a recommendation from Financial Overseer Rick Kingsley that Burke cited.
The district then hired Patricia Kinsella, who had experience as an assistant superintendent, on an interim basis for a salary of $155,000, a decision that Burke said was supported by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This makes the FY23-budgeted $158,100 superintendent salary closer to a 2% increase.
Bowen, while acknowledging that her perception of the change may have been based on “erroneous information,” maintained that the wage gap between administration and staff is unjustifiable.
“The amount of money that the administration, compared to what the true heroes — the teachers — are making, is outstanding,” she said, with Burke responding that the comment was “very insulting” to the administrators who work hard.
Kinsella weighed in later in the meeting, arguing that her pay is nothing out of the ordinary for comparable situations in other districts.
“I make 15% more than these teachers,” she said, “which, to me, does not feel excessive.”
Other members of the Selectboard looked to ease tensions throughout the meeting, with Cummings making an effort to mediate and keep conversation from becoming “contentious.”
“We’re all relatively new,” Vice Chair Barbara “Bee” Jacque reasoned. “Next year, let’s work on crunching details in front of people to make them more comfortable.”
“First of all, you’re not going to make everyone happy, and I appreciate that,” Clerk Bernard “Bernie” Boudreau added, addressing Burke.
Despite conflict earlier in the meeting, the Selectboard made no major suggestions as to how to amend the budget once all had been explained.
“It looks good,” board member Alex Meisner said. “It really does.”
Reach Julian Mendoza
at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or jmendoza@recorder.com.