Ann Arbor school board amends contract for interim superintendent
The Ann Arbor Board of Education approved Friday an addendum for supplemental pay to Deputy Superintendent David Comsa's contract.
David Comsa
Comsa assumed the role of superintendent July 10, when former top official Patricia Green retired from AAPS after less than 2 years with the district.
The board has been engaged in a national search for Green's replacement since April, when she tendered her resignation, and that search may be coming to a close.
The school board approved 7-0 Friday to offer the superintendent position to finalist Brian Osborne of New Jersey. Osborne currently is the superintendent of the South Orange-Maplewood School District. Contract negotiations will begin as soon as possible.
In Comsa's contract addendum, he will receive an additional $769.23 per week in supplemental compensation for his interim superintendent duties, which will continue per the addendum until the board employs a superintendent. The amount of $769.23 per week equates to $19.23 per hour for a typical 40-hour work week.
This pay will be on top of his $140,000 salary as deputy superintendent.
Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
SonnyDog09
Sun, Jul 21, 2013 : 4:31 p.m.
How does this "temporary" increase affect the payout for his pension? What does this end up costing taxpayers in the long run?
Thinkin' it Over
Sun, Jul 21, 2013 : 2:39 p.m.
Why did they increase Comsa's pay? Why would he accept a pay increase?
JenM
Sun, Jul 21, 2013 : 12:55 p.m.
My question is just "why?" What would prompt such a pay raise for an interim position? Did I miss something in the article?
Jay Thomas
Sun, Jul 21, 2013 : 8:30 a.m.
Much like the Regents, the BOE does not represent the taxpayer.
Basic Bob
Sun, Jul 21, 2013 : 4:27 a.m.
In December 2011, Assistant Superintendent Comsa was making $124,542. In less than two years the board has raised his salary to $180,000. Rather impressive.
Floyd
Sun, Jul 21, 2013 : 2:42 a.m.
This is the lawyer who added another addendum to the recently renegotiated contract with the teacher's union, which requires any laid off teacher called back to repay unemployment received while laid off. Apparently David Comsa believes in double dipping only when it suits his own pocketbook. Gosh I can't wait for Osborne to start cleaning house.
Floyd
Sun, Jul 21, 2013 : 1:30 p.m.
Bob, A teacher who was laid off in June and spends the summer looking for a job is unemployed, not seasonal labor. Seasonal labor is the guy who cuts your grass or picks your food but then is laid off by the company he works for when the growing season is over. By the way, this seasonal laborer still gets to collect unemployment when he is terminated. I think the real issue is that you do not believe in unemployment as a social institution. And you are not alone - the tea party, Rand Paul, and David Comsa agree with you!
Basic Bob
Sun, Jul 21, 2013 : 4:11 a.m.
Teachers are seasonal workers so they are not entitled to collect unemployment benefits during the summer. If they collect unemployment benefits illegally, the school district pays for it. This gives them an opportunity to consider that they made a mistake and repay it without criminal charges being filed. I think it is a generous offer. People who believe they are entitled to free money obtained under false pretenses should not be allowed around other people's children.
Orangecrush2000
Sun, Jul 21, 2013 : 12:57 a.m.
The school board enjoys the role of santa claus. But, they are playing santa claus with everyone else's money. I'm sure that if you asked any of them to pitch in, with their own money, if it's so important to them to pay increases to administrators; they'd suddenly decide that the cause isn't worth it. Thanks school board.
DonBee
Sat, Jul 20, 2013 : 9:11 p.m.
So on top of the salary of $70 an hour, we add $19.23 - Making is salary $89.23 an hour. Just putting it in context. At least this raise is temporary and made at a time when people were mostly awake. I wonder how much money Mr. Comsa has brought in from doing work for other districts, something that Dr. Green argued he would do? I also wonder how much of the negotiations with the AAEA and AAAA that Mr. Comsa was responsible for, and what he tried to fix in the contracts that did not end up in the final agreements. I am neigher for or against Mr. Comsa, but a number of promises were made by the BOE and Dr. Green about what he brought to the district, and so far from the outside looking in, I can't see the benefits. A bit of transparency would be useful here.