Board of Education Secretary Seeking 2014 End To Superintendent Contract

The secretary of the Board of Education is looking to cut a contract clause that rolls the superintendent’s three-year contract over each year, an action that would end the superintendent’s employment in the district in 2014.

Jason Catala says he has unsuccessfully tried to introduce an agenda item for a regular meeting to address the item. The board for Superintendent Nicholas Fischer and Assistant Superintendent Christine Carver in July. Both administrators had contracts in place through 2013, and the decision moved their final year forward a year.

“I’m not prepared now to say let’s fire Dr. Fischer, but I am prepared to say let’s cut ties in 2014,” said Catala.

According to the contract, the contract is automatically rolled over to the next year unless the board decides by the end of April against extending the contract. Such a decision would not terminate employment, which the board can do for cause, but would allow the contract to expire after three years.  

Catala said he decided to make the proposal after a recent meeting of the board to decide whether the son of a teacher should be transferred to a kindergarten class there from a kindergarten class in . He said the board received conflicting information, with Fischer saying the class was capped at 24 students and a school official saying that there were only 22 students there. Catala said he has other concerns with Fischer’s leadership as well, saying teacher morale is low, teacher evaluations are too stringent, schools have posted poor and scores, and that there is not effective communication between the board and administration

Fischer said concerns with the student transfer request included varying enrollment numbers at Winthrop and the possibility that the student would have to be transferred to an opening in another school if the class had reached its cap. Fischer denied the request, but it was granted by the board after the parent appealed it to them. He said the board’s decision was one to “not follow its own policies” on matters such as open enrollment and the No Child Left Behind Act.

Fischer questioned why the issue was being raised after the board gave him a favorable assessment after the 2010-2011 school year and Catala joined other board members to approve the extension of his contract.

“I just find it interesting that the whole board gave me an excellent evaluation, and now they’re questioning whether they want to continue my employment beyond 2014,” he said. “What’s going on? It doesn’t make sense to me.”

Susan Connolly, the board’s vice president, said “evergreen” clauses that roll over contracts are common in local school districts. She said Catala could have brought up his concerns during discussions over the contract, and that the contract terms should not return only months after they were approved. Connolly also accused him of making a political issue out of it as he runs for re-election to the board.

“It is political nonsense on the part of Jason Catala," she said. "And the school system should not be infected with such political nonsense.”

Al Kinsall, president of the board, said in an Aug. 30 e-mail to Catala that the request was premature.

“As you are aware, Dr. Fischer’s contract goes along with the evaluation process,” wrote Kinsall. “It is appropriate to have this item on the March 2012 agenda after the new board has been seated whereby you can share your concerns with them.”

Catala said he was dismayed with the response and that items requested by members should be put on the agenda. He said he is considering asking for the support of three other members in calling a special meeting of the board to discuss the issue

Barbara Major, the only board member to vote against approving Fischer’s contract due to the rollover provision, agreed with the suggestion to eliminate such a clause.

“I’d absolutely support that,” she said. “I don’t think anyone should have a contract that extends for three years all the time.”

Major said the board should also start setting more academic goals for the superintendent to strive for. Board member Bill Morse agreed, saying the contract discussion will return in the spring and the board should focus on setting goals such as having target goals for student goal and proficiency levels on state tests.

“I think what would be more important is to set measurable academic goals for the school administration to meet, especially with reading,” he said. “Reading is the Achilles heel of the district.”

Fischer has been superintendent in New London since July of 2009, and served in the Fall River Public Schools before that.