Board approves new super
Contract goes into effect Aug. 1
Pennridge School District has a new superintendent following the school board’s approval at its May 14 meeting of a five-year contract beginning Aug. 1 with Dr. David Bolton.
Bolton, who has been assistant superintendent for elementary education in the Central Bucks School District for the past four years, replaces Dr. Jacqueline Rattigan, who is retiring after three decades of work in public schools, the last five of which were as Pennridge superintendent.
“What I think she will be most remembered for is her focus on social and emotional learning of all students,” school board President Megan Banis-Clemens said.
The district received 25 applications for the superintendent’s position, narrowed that to 12 who were initially interviewed, then cut that to four who were interviewed a second time, Banis-Clemens said. At that point, the board unanimously
agreed on Bolton, after which a third interview was held with him, she said.
“He is committed to educating the whole child and meeting the individual needs of each student in the most inclusive setting appropriate. Helping all students develop a personal connection to an extracurricular activity, such as music, art, sports or other clubs, is a strong ambition of his,” Banis-Clemens said.
“Providing the information and supports needed for students to find and succeed in their chosen career paths, whether they are college bound, learning a trade or embarking on another journey,” she said, “is another key focus of Dr. Bolton’s.”
Board member Ada Miller said she was thrilled Bolton was coming to Pennridge but was voting against the terms of the contract.
“I guess when you pay an expensive attorney, you get an expensive contract,” she said.
“This is a year that we are in the middle of contract negotiations as our community reminds us frequently. Our enrollment is declining,” Miller said. “I’m very concerned. I feel like this is fiscally irresponsible.”
Under the contract, Bolton will have a base salary of $200,000 the first year, which will increase by a minimum of 2.5 percent per year, so long as he is rated “proficient” or higher on his annual performance assessment for the previous year.
He will also receive an additional $1,500 per year for having earned a doctorate degree. Beginning July 1, 2019, and each year after that during the contract, the district will put $3,000 into a retirement account for Bolton. Under the contract, Bolton will receive 12 sick days each year. At the end of the contract, he will receive $45 for any unused sick days. He receives 25 vacation days per year, 10 of which can be carried over. Up to five unused vacation days per year can be traded in for a contribution to the retirement fund equal to the number of days times his daily rate, according to the contract. Health care benefits will be the same as those provided for all district administrators.
The average annual salary of the top administrator in 13 Bucks County school districts, three technical schools and Bucks County Intermediate Unit is $172,000, Miller said. The district budget and Rattigan’s salary ranked eighth among those 17 school entities, she said, but Bolton’s salary will put him among the top three.
“You’re hiring a quarterback and you have a choice between hiring the least expensive quarterback or the best quarterback,” Banis-Clemens said. “I think that we’re making the right choice. I think we got the right person.”
New Solicitor Michael Miller said in order for Bolton to take the Pennridge job, he had to give up more than 100 sick days that he could’ve received payment for from Central Bucks.
“It’s very clear that both sides had to provide some give and some take,” Michael Miller said.
The contract was approved by an 8-1 vote with Ada Miller casting the dissenting vote.
Bolton said he’s thrilled by the opportunity and humbled by the responsibility of taking on the superintendent’s job at Pennridge. He said he has three goals for the himself district. and promises to “I promise to you to learn this community and this district. I promise to listen, to listen to what you say are the strengths of this district, but also to listen for your hopes for this district in terms of things five years from now can be better, for the kids, for the teachers, for the parents and the community of Pennridge,” Bolton said. “And, lastly, I commit to work really, really hard to build upon those strengths as well as the traditions of the Pennridge community. I am really excited by this opportunity, and I look forward to getting to know all of you.” A community forum for residents to meet Bolton will be held Monday, May 21, at Pennridge High School. It will begin at 6 p.m. with light refreshments, then move into the auditorium at 6:30 p.m. The forum will be live-streamed with a link posted on the district website. attigan’s retirement is effective the end of June, so there will be a month’s gap between and said Bolton ment Bolton to she prior ease the will begins. time the to work her transition. she She retire- leaves with has trict’s Dr. Troy director Price, of adminis- the distration, will serve as acting superintendent during the month of July. When the motion to make Price acting superintendent was made at the May 14 meeting, board members Peter Yarnell and Christine Yardley said the board should have been given the details, including Price’s pay rate, for the time he is acting superintendent.
Michael Miller said the board had discussed it the previous week and Price’s pay for July would be the same as Rattigan’s would have been.
“I realize that in executive session it was discussed, but it seems to me that it was not really made extremely clear exactly what was going to happen,” Yarnell said. “Had it had been here as part of the motion, it would have made it much clearer.”
After the motion was amended to say the payment would be at Rattigan’s rate, Yardley asked, “So what’s the rate?”
Michael Miller said it will be at Rattigan’s current rate but did not give an amount.
“Mrs. Yardley, if you wish to vote against it — there’s a motion and second on the floor — you may certainly do so,” he said.
The vote passed with seven voting in favor, Yardley voting against it and Yarnell abstaining.
“It’s not a vote against Dr. Price. It’s a vote against the lack of information,” Yardley said.
Yarnell said he abstained because he approved of Price being acting superintendent but said the board should have been given more information before the vote.