By Josh LaBella
Voice Reporter
The Board of Education voted to approve the two-year contract of Assistant Superintendent Anne Druzolowski Monday night. They also voted to approve the retirements of a several school system employees.
Chairman Rosemary Russo spoke to Druzolowski’s commitment to the job.
“On January 2018, Dr. Druzolowski was asked to consider taking a one-percent decrease in her salary and without hesitation she said yes and subsequently received a 1 percent pay cut,” said Russo. “This was negotiated in a time when it was thought that other city employees would also take a pay cut.”
Russo said in actuality no other city employee took a cut. She said she did not think that was right. In the contract they approved the 1 percent is restored.
“She will be receiving two zeroes for the next two years,” said Russo. “Anne has never complained to me or any other board member, that I know of, and has continued to do her job in the same manner as years before. I do not find any reason not to restore her rate of pay.”
Russo also spoke to teachers accepting a pay freeze in West Haven’s time of tumultuous finances.
“The job of our teachers is to educate our children,” said Russo. “I do not believe that part of their job description is to help thumb the cost of educating our children. Our teachers took a hard freeze. They received no increase. This was a huge sacrifice on their part and it should be the exception, not the rule.”
Russo commended the teachers, and all school system employees, for stepping up to do their part during the city’s ongoing financial crisis. She added she thinks many take the sacrifice they made for granted.
“I want to be on the record in saying that I will never vote for a contract that takes away money from an individual again,” said Russo. “I also will not put the responsibility of saving teachers jobs or educational programs for our children on the backs of our teachers. Free public education is a constitutional right. Therefore, it is up to the entire city to make sure it is funded properly.”
All present members of the board voted to approve Druzolowski’s contract save James Morrissey. He said it had nothing to do with the assistant superintendent’s performance, but will the contract allowing vacation buybacks, a policy he thinks the city needs to end.
“I just feel like vacation is what it is,” said Morrissey. “It’s vacation. I’d like to see the employees use their vacation [or lose it].”
Morrissey said paying out lump sums for saved up vacation days upon retirement hurts the city. Morrissey’s wife, Eighth District City Councilwoman Tracey Morrissey, has led the charge to get Mayor Nancy Rossi and former Mayor Ed O’Brien to pay back the money they took for vacation buybacks. She contends it was against city policy to do so.
The board also approved the retirements of several school system employees. Superintendent Neil Cavallaro said he did his best to try and talk Mackrille School Building Manager Kenneth Voss and Malloy School tradesman Robert Beecher out of retirement.