AMHERST — A new three-year contract that will pay Superintendent Michael Morris $163,140 will go into effect at the conclusion of his current deal in June.
The Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee, made up of representatives from Amherst, Pelham, Shutesbury and Leverett, and the Union 26 School Committee, composed of Amherst and Pelham representatives, approved the contract for Morris at a joint meeting Monday. Terms of the deal were negotiated in executive session over the past three months.
The regional committee vote was 6-1, with Shutesbury representative Stephen Sullivan casting the lone dissenting vote, while the Union 26 vote was 5-0. Amherst representative Kerry Spitzer and Pelham representative Ronald Mannino were absent, though both previously said they would support the new contract.
Morris said he has enjoyed his tenure as superintendent and was “honored and humbled” by the vote.
Morris assumed the position on an interim basis in August 2016 following the departure of Maria Geryk, and was named to the permanent position in October 2017.
He praised the work being done throughout the district by teachers and staff and highlighted accomplishments that have included a focus on equity and increasing the diversity of hires.
Regional Chairman Eric Nakajima said the new contract extends from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2023, and automatically renews unless the committee notifies Morris of a different decision by Dec. 31, 2022.
The $163,140 salary will increase to $170,207 on July 1, 2021, while beginning July 1, 2022, the salary will be adjusted again “based on the superintendent’s performance and the district’s finances.”
The current contract, ratified Dec. 20, 2017, paid Morris a base salary of $153,600 from Nov. 28, 2017 to June 30, 2018, with a 1 percent cost-of-living increase July 1, 2018, and a 2 percent cost-of-living increase last July 1.
Aside from the figures for the salary, potential longevity payments beginning in his 16th year, and a $2,500 lump sum for earning his doctorate, the contract language is identical to the current contract except in two sections.
One change spells out when the committees are not obligated to give Morris severance pay, including in cases of willful misconduct, dereliction of duty and acts of embezzlement,
The other change guarantees Morris two compensation days per month for the numerous night meetings he is obligated to attend, though these must be used within 60 days of being earned.
After the meeting, Sullivan explained his vote against the contract was about the process used to reach it, and not Morris’ performance. Sullivan said the Shutesbury School Committee was expressing concern that the contract was not done at the same time as the performance review last summer.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
