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Adduci: Taxpayers share my outrage
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BY Jordan Cohen
NILES
Retiring school Superintendent Rocco Adduci said he has received “nothing but support” from callers after his criticism of the board of education for the contract it approved with his successor, Mark Robinson.
“I’ve had around 12 calls this morning, and every single one of them has supported me,” Adduci said Wednesday. “Not a single caller criticized me.”
Adduci, who retires July 31, released an email he sent to all five board members Tuesday in which he called their contract with Robinson “outrageous” and warned of its “ominous consequences” for Niles schools.
Robinson’s contract contains a base pay of $106,500, goal incentive and ancillary pays that would increase his salary to $120,000 after his first month. It also has additional salary increases should the state prohibit the board from paying Robinson’s employee contributions to Medicare and the State Teachers Retirement System.
Adduci’s base pay is $91,860, and his contract does not contain goal incentives or ancillary pay.
“Some of the callers were teachers and administrators, but many were private citizens,” Adduci said. “One of them told me ‘thanks for sticking up for taxpayers.’”
Adduci said he hasn’t been contacted by any of the board members and declined to speculate whether the board might take action against him because of his public criticism. The board, which has not responded to requests for comment, meets this evening at 6 at Rhodes Elementary School.
There could be a large turnout.
“I sent an email to all the membership inviting them to show up,” said Mary Ann McMahon, president of the 180-member Niles Classroom Teachers Association. The NCTA, the teachers union, is negotiating with the district on a new contract to replace its agreement that expires Aug. 28.
The board traditionally includes time for public comments in its meeting agenda. McMahon said she did not know if any of the teachers will address the board at that time about either the Robinson contract or the status of negotiations.