Stonington school board praises Riley in evaluation

Stonington — The Board of Education has again praised Superintendent of Schools Van Riley in its annual evaluation of his performance.

After completing its evaluation Wednesday, the board gave Riley a 2.5 percent raise, which is the same as other school administrators are receiving. It also extended his contract by one year so he continues to have a three-year deal with the school board. The raise boosts Riley’s salary from $188,455 to $193,166.

In its numerical evaluation of Riley in areas such as educational leadership, financial management and staff and community relations, Riley received no score lower than 4 or 5, the highest possible.

The school board’s summary of his performance states, “Dr. Riley continues to demonstrate strong management skills, overall. He has been very involved in the process of building two elementary schools, navigating some very difficult challenges in the process. Dr. Riley has acted as a liaison between the district and the various parties involved in the process. In addition, Dr. Riley was instrumental in assisting the Board of Education (to) reach a 3-year agreement with the Stonington Education Association that was beneficial to the bargaining unit and the taxpayers. Dr. Riley was also able to formulate a budget that reflects the needs of the district while being sensitive to the troubling financial climate the state of Connecticut is experiencing.”

“As we move forward in 2017/2018, the Board of Education would like Dr. Riley to continue to be present in the schools and to engage the community in the ongoing initiatives that will serve to increase the visibility and excellence of the Stonington schools. Overall, the board is pleased with the performance of the superintendent,” the evaluation states.

Riley took over the school system in October 2012 after a long career as a school administrator in California. He has received stellar reviews from the school board since his arrival.