Bonus for Reynolds gets grudging OK

By James F. Russell, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

June 30, 2006

STURBRIDGE - The Tantasqua Regional and Union 61 school committees narrowly approved a $4,500 bonus tied to an "excellent" evaluation for departing Superintendent Kathleen H.  Reynolds at yesterday's meeting - money several board members openly said was paid not because the school chief deserved it but to get rid of her.

"I would really love it if we could find a way to finish this tonight.  Let's get the hell out of Dodge, let her leave with dignity," Union 61 Chairman Angela Cheng-Cimini said before introducing a motion "to evaluate Dr. Reynolds as excellent." Ms. Cheng-Cimini's motions included language granting Ms. Reynolds a performance bonus totaling 3.5 percent of her approximately $131,000 annual salary.  Many school committee members vociferously opposed the payment.  Some said the district was faced with the choice of saving money by paying the bonus because of the time and costs associated with a formal evaluation.

Tantasqua representative Katie Alexander of Sturbridge said she objected to Ms. Reynolds telling the school committees it would be less expensive to give her the excellent rating linked to the $4,500 bonus.  Ms. Alexander said she favored spending the time needed to conduct a formal evaluation of Ms. Reynolds.

"It disgusts me that our backs are against the wall.  It just disgusts me," Ms. Alexander said.  At one point Ms. Alexander told Ms. Reynolds: "Stop threatening people."

Ms. Reynolds said she was stating facts, and she rejected statements that she was threatening anyone.

"It is not a threat," Ms. Reynolds said.  "This (formal review process to take place over the summer) would not make sense when I am leaving the district."

Today is Ms. Reynolds' last day on the job.  The school committees agreed to pay her vacation time until Sept. 30 and health benefits until she finds other employment with health insurance.

Ms. Reynolds said it would cost the district money to conduct a formal evaluation of her.  She backed that up by telling the committee it cost the district $25,000 in legal bills to negotiate her contract extension.  Ms. Reynolds was given a two-year contract when she became Tantasqua-Union 61 superintendent on Nov. 1, 2003.  Over a four-month period beginning in late 2004, the parties negotiated an 11-month extension.

Tantasqua board member Elaine Apostola of Brimfield said during last night's meeting, "This is going to cost us a lot of money" to conduct the formal evaluation because of possible legal costs.

"She (Ms. Reynolds) is doing this on purpose," Ms. Alexander said.

"I know," Ms. Apostola replied.

Union 61 member Stephen Comtois of Brookfield asked, "Is it even contractually an obligation to pay Ms. Reynolds a bonus?"

Tantasqua board chairman Ronald Levine of Sturbridge said, "It is murky."

The boards had voted to enter executive session to discuss an evaluation and the bonus, but after 40 minutes resumed meeting in open session.  Several board members objected to meeting behind closed doors.

Before going into executive session, former Tantasqua school board chairman Michael Miller called Ms. Reynolds "a (expletive deleted) liar." Ms. Reynolds then turned to Tantasqua school board member Sheila Noyes-Miller of Brimfield to say: "Sheila, you have my sympathies." Ms. Noyes-Miller and Mr. Miller are married.

In other business, the boards appointed Maryellen Brunelle, 42, of East Brookfield associate superintendent last night.  She had been a principal at Bryn Mawr Elementary School in Auburn.