The Union 26 and Amherst Pelham Regional School committees are offering to pay Superintendent Maria Geryk roughly $300,000 severance. Paying someone so richly for quitting her job is a gross misuse of school funds.
I realize the superintendent position is demanding and difficult, but presumably Geryk did, too, when she accepted the position. Perhaps the committees feel that Geryk is entitled to some additional compensation for the stress and conflict arising from the Aisha Hiza fiasco, but we should remember that Geryk must bear responsibility for her own poor decisions. Because the negotiation process has been entirely closed, we just don’t know.
If the assertion published in the Gazette, that “Geryk was alleging breach of contract, including non-compliant performance evaluations” holds true, then maybe Geryk is owed some money, but let’s put that in perspective by comparing it to the Carolyn Gardner settlement.
Gardner, who endured the kind of harassment that makes one fear for one’s safety, received $180,000. I can’t imagine Geryk’s claim approaching Gardner’s. Instead, let’s base the money that Geryk receives on the raise that she might have received, if due process were followed. I expect such a severance payment would be less than the current figure.
If the school district hopes to win approval for a future override, officials must prove that they are good stewards of the funds that they currently have. Right now, I am not impressed.
David Schmidt
Amherst