BOE Tables Public Hearing to Amend Super's Contract

The school district tabled the public hearing that would amend Superintendent Dr. Sandra Brower’s contract.

The Board of Education needed to clarify the process that needed to be followed in order to hold the public hearing, President Jack Martenak said.

There was a misunderstanding regarding public announcements and whether the public hearing could be added onto the general school board meeting agenda, he added.

“This is our first time hiring a new superintendent,” he said. “We have to figure out the process.”

The board announced earlier this month that it will hold a public hearing to consider a “clarifying amendment” to the superintendent’s contract. The hearing was tabled until further notice.

When Brower was hired as the Superintendent of Schools, her start date was pending her release as Assistant Superintendent in Wall, Board of Education Jack Martenak said. As a result, the contract did not reflect her actual start date.

“There’s a ripple effect on other dates in her contract,” he said.

Dates in Brower’s contract are dependent on her start date. Some dates impacted include Brower’s healthcare coverage and her renewal date, Martenak said. 

For example, Brower’s contract states that she would serve as superintendent from Dec. 1, 2011 to July 1, 2016 but Brower’s first day on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011.

The addendum, which was not yet addressed since the public hearing was tabled, states that if Brower’s start date was to begin prior to Dec. 1, she would be entitled to compensation and all time periods would be calculated from the actual start date.

Once the contract is modified, Brower’s Termination of Employment Contract will reflect a date of Feb. 12, 2016.

The school board will consider and vote on the amendment at a public hearing. 

Martenak explained that time isn’t of the essence with this issue and once clarifications are made regarding the processes of holding the public hearing, the district will announce a new date.