Schools give superintendent, treasurer new pacts
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Jan. 04, 2006

School district officials are heading into a probable spring levy campaign with two key administrators being retained for another year.

Contracts for both Superintendent Kurt Stanic and Treasurer Robert Matson were unanimously approved by the school board at its Dec. 19 meeting. Stanic’s salary will go from $118,800 annually in fiscal year 2004-2005 to $122,484 for the upcoming year, beginning Aug. 1. Matson’s annual salary of $99,192 remains the same, but effective Jan. 1, 2006 the school district will place $3,000 annually on behalf of Matson into the Ohio Public Employees Deferred Compensation Program. The contributions will be considered part of Matson’s base salary.

Board members said it was important to retain both administrators, particularly with the district in all probability placing another levy on the ballot sometime in 2006. Voters rejected a combined capital improvements and operating levy in November but district officials have said they probably will place another proposal on the ballot, probably in May.

“Both of them have done outstanding jobs for the district in terms of service and working with the schools and the community,” said Don Frazier, the senior member of the school board. “Rob has been invaluable to the system in terms of saving money since he joined the district several years ago. He has found funds for us in different areas like setting up programs which save us money, helping in various negotiations and deals or in recovering funds that were supposed to come to the district.

“We’ve also found that Dr. Stanic is as he was advertised to us when we hired him three years ago – one of the best superintendents around. He is very knowledgeable on education issues and he also takes the time to be around the schools and the children and the staff in them. He’s a fine leader and a real asset to the district. He has expressed a strong desire to make sure he stays on so we can get a levy passed.”

Frazier said having the duo back during a levy campaign will aid the district.

“That’s very important,” Frazier said. “Their expertise will be very important when we view the results of the focus groups and community meetings. They will help us decide the best direction to go in terms of what to place before the voters the next time it goes on the ballot.”

Frazier said the board also appreciates the contracts both administrators accepted.

“It goes along with the fiscally conservative policy we try to have,” Frazier said. “Compared to some other schools, the compensation and the increases are smaller.”

Board President Mike Raig also praised both administrators, while also saying they, other district officials and the school board would be busy preparing for the upcoming work on the levy.

“If we’re going to put it on the ballot in May, we really don’t have a lot of time since it was to go over to the board of elections during February,” Raig said. “Their expertise will help in preparing it and making it the best proposal possible.”

Stanic and Matson both expressed their thanks for the new contracts.

“It’s nice to be appreciated,” Stanic said. “I’m glad they feel we’re doing a good job. This is a fine district and I enjoy being here.”

Stanic acknowledged they will be busy.

“We have a lot of work to do,” he said.

Matson also said working on the levy will keep them moving.

“We have to see the results of the focus groups and community meetings to make sure we have a sense of where people are,” Matson said. “We also have to prepare figures pertaining to whatever proposal the board settles on assuming it goes ahead with seeking another levy and then we have to get them over to the county.”

He also said he thinks the deferred compensation works for him.

“I see light at the end of the tunnel in terms of retiring in a few years so getting some deferred compensation will provide me with some security in later years while it also helps the district currently,” Matson said.