Flatto Concerned Over Supt. Finalist's Salary

First Selectman Ken Flatto isn't pleased by rumors he's heard that David Title, scheduled to be hired tonight as Fairfield's new superintendent of schools, will be paid more than Supt. of Schools Ann Clark, who is retiring June 30.

Board of Education Chairman Sue Brand declined to identify Title's salary on Tuesday because Title and the school board hadn't signed a contract, but sources said this morning that the salary offered was $260,000 a year, plus a $10,000 performance bonus, use of a town car and an annuity. Sources put the overall compensation at $300,000, though added that the Board of Education was still haggling with Title last they heard.

Flatto, who did not identify Title's salary in his letter to Brand, which was sent today, said he had heard rumors Title would be paid more than Clark, who received a base salary of $234,861, not including use of a town car and an annuity. The Board of Education's proposed budget for 2010-11 lists the salary for the superintendent of schools' position at $234,861, identical to Clark's current base salary, but the school board has flexibility in increasing or decreasing that amount for Title.

Sources said Title was paid less than $180,000 a year as superintendent of schools in Bloomfield, which is his current position, but Bloomfield's school district is much smaller than Fairfield's.

The Bloomfield school district has three public elementary schools (one of which is scheduled to close due to declining enrollment) one middle school and two high schools (one of which is a magnet high school.) The Bloomfield school district has about 2,400 students.

By contrast, Fairfield's school district has 11 public elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools, and Fairfield's student population was 10,058 as of March 1.

The text of Flatto's letter to Brand, which was sent by e-mail and fax, follows:

March 31, 2010

Mrs. Susan Brand, Chairperson

Board of Education

Fairfield Public Schools

Dear Sue,

I am compelled to write this most difficult, apprehensive letter to you and your Board prior to your Board meeting this evening. As you know, for several days I have heard rumors from a couple of informed sources of the possibility that the Board of Education may be offering a new higher salary to the new candidate for Superintendent of Schools, which you and the Vice Chair have not denied.

I am most desirous in supporting your Board in attracting this excellent candidate and truly want an accomplished and competent school leader for our system. However, I had expectation, which Board members indicated to me months ago, that town would save a little budget money when hiring a new Superintendent. Now I must write to notify you of my opinion regarding this situation, as well as the opinion of a few Selectmen and senior Town officials with whom I have consulted.

Any offer to a Superintendent candidate which would increase salary beyond the current level budgeted for the current Superintendent would be most unfair, unsustainable and frankly unacceptable for our town. It is unfair to the teachers who have foregone a pay increase and unfair to senior town managers who had given back portions of planned increases. It is unsustainable in potentially burdening the finances of the district, as it did several years ago when school managers sought and received sizeable increases due to the amount the Board then gave the Superintendent. It is unacceptable to many residents who will tell you if asked that, especially in this harsh economic climate, we cannot afford such a decision by the Board. All these concerns impacted and prompted my budget amendment yesterday.

I regrettably write this letter to urge your Board to immediately rectify this situation. I am confident this can be accomplished in a spirit of caring for the community. I will do everything I can to help and to welcome our new Superintendent lead Fairfield Public Schools this coming school year.

Respectfully,

Kenneth A. Flatto

First Selectman

cc: Board of Selectmen