http://www.michigancityin.com/articles/200.../06/news/n1.txt
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Harding will make $118,554 per year In a 5-2 vote, the Michigan City Area Schools board renewed the superintendent's contract Tuesday night, extending it until June 30, 2009. With board members James Kintzele and Clyde Zeek voting against the contract, the board raised the salary of Superintendent Michael Harding from $111,500 to $118,554 per year retroactive to July 1. “Education is hard,” the superintendent, who is responsible for about 1,100 employees, told the board. “But the positives far outweigh the negatives.” This raise is the first Harding has received since coming to Michigan City in July 2004, board member Jeff Jones said. Zeek and Kintzele said they were not part of recent discussions between Harding and the five other board members. They attended a negotiating meeting on Nov. 27, and Zeek said he expected the board to meet with the superintendent to get his input on this version of the contract. The board has been working on the matter since last June. At just 5:25 p.m. Tuesday, just more than 30 minutes before the board meeting started, Zeek said he received an e-mail from the board attorney notifying him of changes the superintendent wanted to the contract. One issue had to do with a deadline for accomplishing goals set for the superintendent by the board, and another changed the number of work days from 260 per year to 230, Zeek said. Harding discussed the contract while also talking about other matters with individual board members. He mentioned it while discussing the board meeting agenda with board member Bob Frame, and while discussing another issue with Adrienne Gottlieb. Both Kintzele and Zeek said they are unaware of any attempts to reach them. They say they received no messages or voicemail. Harding was in Indianapolis most of Tuesday. Board member Nathaniel Gipson said he was ready to settle the contract “and move forward. “We were elected to do the best job for kids,” Gipson said. Gottlieb said she had worked to build consensus while she was board member, “and there has been an unwillingness to do so ... “We have had people unwilling to make decisions, unwilling to be board members,” she added. “I'm ashamed of all of you,” she said. For his part, Harding said open debate is healthy. The contract has become an emotional issue, he said. “We've had a number of versions (of the contract) since June,” Harding added. He called the lawyers to clarify which version the board was considering. He extended an invitation to Zeek and Kintzele to meet with him over this or any other issue. The best part of presiding as superintendent over the MCAS, Harding said, is to see ,100 people getting up every day trying to make a difference in the lives of kids every day.” |