School Administrators Agree To One-Year Pay Freeze

The Hauppauge Public School District's top administrative officials have agreed to take a one-year pay freeze as the school system preps for a tighter operating budget next school year.

The district has already proposed a that calls for slashing 23 teacher positions and cutting numerous extra-curricular activities.

Superintendent Patricia Sullivan-Kriss announced at Tuesday night's Board of Education meeting that she would join her three assistant superintendents in foregoing their contractual wage increases for 2011-2012 school year.

"I hope this action will be perceived by the community as [our] understanding of the financial stresses currently being experienced by the taxpayers of Hauppauge," Sullivan-Kriss said.

The administrators' decision is expected to save the district $23,177 next year, according to James Stucchio, the assistant superintendent of business and operations, who will be affected by the deal. It will also affect Kyrie Segal, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and technology; and Reza Kolahifar, assistant superintendent of personnel and administration.

Sullivan-Kriss will be the hardest hit by the agreement, whose base salary was expected to increase by $5,178, or 2 percent, to $263,178 next year.

The announcement comes after a March 15 board meeting where to prevent the elimination of teachers and programs under the proposed budget.

The district remains in open contract negotiations with four out of five of its unions, including the teachers' and teaching assistants' unions, for next year. Sullivan-Kriss could not be immediately reached for comment on what impact, if any, this decision could have on that process.

The Hauppauge Board of Education will hold its next special budget session on April 12 at 8 p.m. at the former