Stonington superintendent asks for no raise or contract extension
Board of Education is less effusive than in past evaluations of Riley
— The Board of Education has completed its annual evaluation of the performance of Superintendent of Schools Van Riley, saying he “meets but seldom exceeds expectations.”
The evaluation, which the school board approved Thursday night after meeting with Riley in executive session, was released to The Day on Monday. The evaluation covers the period from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020.
At Thursday night’s school board meeting, Chairman Frank Todisco announced that Riley had requested that his contract not be extended to its usual three years. This means Riley now has two years left on his deal, which expires June 30, 2022. In addition, Todisco said Riley requested that he not receive a raise in light of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He currently earns $200,700 a year.
The statement by the board that Riley “meets but seldom exceeds expectations’ is in contrast to his prevous evaluations over the past several years in which the board gave him glowing reviews and raises and extended his contract.
The evaluation covers the time period where residents, students and some board members were critical of how Riley handled sexual harassment allegations against former high school teacher Timothy Chokas
and related Freedom of Information appeals and legal fees. The evaluation, though, does not mention those issues that came to light during the evaluation period.
Todisco and board member Gordon Lord did not participate in the evaluation because they were not on the board during the evaluation period. Those who conducted the evaluation were Alisa Morrison, Heidi Simmons, Jack Morehouse, Farouk Rajab and Craig Esposito.
In the area of community and board relations, the board praised Riley’s “strong leadership from the onset of the COVID pandemic,” saying he “utilized district resources and expertise to assist other departments within town government to ensure a healthy and safe environment was maintained for all. He also collaborated with other town organizations to meet the needs of the community.”
But board members added he’s “often impulsive in his communication with BoE members or community members who are critical of his actions.”
In the area of budgeting and finance, the board said Riley “has worked effectively with internal staff to manage facilities in an effective manner while balancing the finite financial resources available,” and has developed a fair method of distribution of resources between schools.
It added though the “past year brought a deterioration of an already challenging relationship with the Board of Finance.” Board of Finance members had criticized school officials for their reluctance to provide details on school spending.