S-B school chief can carry over 16 days not utilized.

A request to roll over unused vacation time from one budget year to the next for Superintendent Mike Murray was approved this week by the Suttons Bay Board of Education.

The school board voted 5-1 Monday night, with trustee David Buffum opposed, to approve a request from Murray to carry over 16 vacation days into the 2008-09 school year, which begins July 1.

Murray’s contract provides 20 paid vacation days a year. However, he has the only contract in the school district that doesn’t carry over a maximum of 10 days.

Trustee Lizabeth Venie said the contract was written specifically to prohibit that since past experience has come at a significant cost to the district.

While board members agree that Murray’s performance in the first 18 months of service has been exemplary, they disagreed on how to address the vacation days Murray was not able to use.

“The year went by and it just got away from me,” said the superintendent, who has implemented a great number of changes since he was hired in December 2006.

Board President Sue Corbin and trustee Thomas Nixon III suggested the board consider buying a number of the unused vacation days.

Business manager LeAnn Eustice calculated the cost to purchase one day of unused vacation at $504.98, including Social Security and retirement, based on a 260-day work year. The calculation also showed a cost of $3,029.88 for six days, $5,049.79 for 10 days, and $8,079.67 for 16 days.

“I see it as a way of expressing appreciation for his efforts in his first year,” Nixon said. “I regret we’re in this circumstance, but I respect the commitment he has brought to the table.”

Corbin said that as superintendent, Murray is the board’s employee and it’s up to them to determine whether he should receive additional compensation.

“Mike is in a position to save us a lot of money,” Corbin said, noting renovations to the heating system and transportation program. “When he sees a problem, he has to have the authority to resolve it. This involves risks … but he always does what’s right for kids.”

Trustees agreed that Murray has performed well in his first 1½ years of service, but were leery of paying him for unused days.

“Mike’s done a great job. He’s been a great addition … But we’re struggling for every dime we get,” Buffum said. “A better way to do it could be to roll those days over, even if it takes three years to do it.”

Trustee Roger Merriman, also a Murray supporter, was also cautious about paying for the unused days.
“A lot of people go above and beyond what is expected of them,” he said. “If we’re doing it simply because of this, it’s a tough call.”

Board members approved the rollover, but the compensation issue wasn’t completely put to rest. The finance committee is expected to discuss the issue at a June 17 meeting. Any recommendation coming from the group will be reflected in the proposed 2008-09 budget, which is the focus of a special budget hearing set for 6:30 p.m., June 23 at the second floor conference room in the elementary building.

In other business during this week’s meeting, the board:

• Moved high school counselor Allison Bullard to second-year probationary status, Montessori teacher Deb Shutt from third- to fourth-year probation, and hired Amy Finck as high school Spanish teacher. A Central Michigan University graduate, she will replace Bonnie Modroo, who is taking over secondary English classes previous taught by Ben Lantz, who served as interim middle school principal in second semester. He has since been formally appointed as middle school principal.

• Approved a resolution of support for a request from Montessori teacher Sean Kreider for $4,275 in “2 percent” funds for construction of a community garden at the school site.