Glendale school board extends superintendent’s contract
The Glendale school board unanimously voted this week to extend Glendale Unified Supt. Dick Sheehan’s contract through 2018.
Sheehan — who previously served as a deputy superintendent for the district — took the helm in 2010, replacing Michael Escalante.
That year, Sheehan made a base salary of $240,000 with a contract through June 2014.
Aside from extending the time that Sheehan will serve at the helm of Glendale Unified through the next four years, the terms of his contract and salary remain the same as they were in 2010, which call on him to supervise the instruction and business affairs of the district.
He is also required to represent the interests of parents and residents, and maintain effective relationships with community organizations and the school board.
Since 2010, the district’s overall score on the Academic Performance Index that is based on students’ performance on state standardized exams has increased by about 20 points, according to state data.
Looking at the past four years, Sheehan said he is most proud of the Glendale school board establishing a “student-centric” district, he said.
“All our decisions are truly based on what’s best for our kids,” he added.
He’s also proud of the progress made to school facilities through the Measure S bond voters approved in 2011.
As the current school year comes to a close, educators and students are making the transition to new computerized state exams and a new curriculum known as the Common Core State Standards.
“The next four years will be some of the most exciting times in education,” Sheehan said. “Here we have an opportunity to rethink how we do everything. I think the Common Core gives us a great opportunity to do that,” adding that district will further prepare students for the job market in the area and beyond it.
“I am thrilled that you are continuing with us, and that we have your guidance, honesty and openness” said school board President Nayiri Nahabedian during this week’s meeting, at which point fellow school board members and district staff broke into applause.
School officials also announced this week that the Glendale Teachers Assn. met a tentative agreement with the district that would enable certificated teachers, as well as nurses, psychologists and speech therapists to receive a 3% base salary raise, retroactive to July 2013.
When the proposal goes before the Glendale school board in April,its approval would usher in the first raise for Glendale Unified employees since 2007-08.
The proposal also comes about as Glendale school officials predict they will receive $16 million more in revenue for the 2014-15 school year than they did for the current year.
For Glendale teachers’ union President Phyllis Miller, the raise has been a long time coming.
“We are really happy to be getting an increase in pay,” she said, adding that the cost of gas and food have increased over the years.
“A lot of teachers have spent more in supplies for their classrooms because the district has had less money to spend,” she added.
Maria Gandera, who is an assistant superintendent for Glendale Unified, said negotiations with the classified employees union are in the process.
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Follow Kelly Corrigan on Twitter: @kellymcorrigan.
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