School board approves interim treasurer

The treasurer's scores varied widely on his evaluation.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The board of education accepted the resignation of its treasurer, Phillip D. Butto IV and appointed the assistant treasurer, Merri Smith, as interim treasurer effective immediately.
The board made its decision just before midnight Tuesday, after a lengthy executive session.
Butto will be paid at his current rate as a contract employee for 30 work days "for transition purposes," said the board's lawyer, Dan Jaffe of Squire, Sanders and Dempsey of Cleveland. Jaffe declined to comment on the board's rationale for its action.
The board hired Butto, 31, in March 2004 at a $79,000 annual salary and raised his pay to $80,580 in January of this year.
Smith sat in Butto's place at Tuesday's school board meeting, which Butto did not attend. He could not be reached.
His background
Butto, of Boardman, who holds a bachelor's degree in accounting, magna cum laude, from Youngstown State University, had been Hubbard schools treasurer from August 2000 until the Warren school board hired him.
Butto had been assistant treasurer at the Trumbull County Educational Service Center from January 1998 until he became Hubbard schools treasurer. He is also a former assistant state auditor.
In January, the five Warren Board of Education members gave Butto varied scores in a composite evaluation.
They wrote that Butto learned his new job quickly, has good financial skills, and kept current in professional growth in the complex field of school finance.
On a scale of one to five, with five being the highest, Butto's lowest composite score in any category was a 3.2 in judgment, and his highest was a 4.75 in in-service training.
Among his higher scores were 4.4 in integrity, appearance and participation and involvement in state and local organizations, and 4.6 in attendance at workshops.
He was rated numerically in 22 categories, and in 17 of them, he ranked between 3.2 and 4.0, inclusive. He received 4.0 scores in school finance, communication and ability. He scored 3.4 in board policies, management efficiency, decision-making, leadership, initiative and self-control.
Did job well
Board members wrote that he did his job well under high expectations from the board and despite the need to make "difficult cuts" in the school budget. "He took the initiative to correct finances due to declining enrollment," the board members wrote.
However, board members told him to "make sure the staff gets needed supervision" and that he "needs to be more accessible to board and staff."
Under the professional characteristics heading, board members said that Butto "needs a lot of work in these areas," and that he needs to update all board members on financial statements before important decisions are made.
Personal life
Without being specific, the evaluation also referred to "some preoccupation noted outside the district," and board members said Butto "needs to separate his personal life from time on the job."
Board members also said he needs to become more organized, prioritize his work, maintain a regular office schedule, submit reports timely and accurately, and "eliminate surprises from his office."
milliken@vindy.com