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School board will not take action on principal’s contract
By Karl Henkel
POLAND
Poland schools finds itself in a pinch when it comes to a longtime public educator.
High school principal Vincent Procopio’s two-year contract expires at the end of the year, and based on performance, he is eligible to receive a new three-year deal.
But because he’s been on medical leave and still doesn’t know if he’ll return, the board will take no action, and under state law, his contract will renew for an additional two years.
Superintendent Robert Zorn said the board likely will take that approach as a professional courtesy to Procopio, who has worked in public education for nearly 30 years, including four at Poland.
Zorn said there are only three options when it comes to expiring contracts: nonrenewal, an automatic rollover or a new contract.
“I have all due respect for any employee dealing with any medical situation,” school board president Elinor Zedaker said. “We do hope things work out for Mr. Procopio.”
Procopio, who makes about $87,000 annually, is eligible for a three-year extension under Poland’s structure, where administrators receive a pair of two-year deals, followed by a three-year deal and then four-year contracts after that, dependent upon performance.
There is no monetary difference in the length of a contract if an employee retires; once he or she retires, the contract and paychecks end.
Zorn said there has been no indication by Procopio as to what he plans to do, and that he still has earned sick time remaining. Teachers in Ohio earn 1.25 sick days per month worked. When sick days are used up, a decision must be made regarding an employee’s status.
Zorn also said a physician’s note is not only needed for the district to grant sick leave, but also necessary if an employee wants to return to work.
Kevin Snyder, who recently received a new two-year wage and scale-frozen contract as assistant principal, remains interim principal while Procopio is away.
Snyder receives an additional $2,500 per semester as interim principal, as does Mike Daley as dean of students, for an annual total cost of $10,000.