Contract under scrutiny Council president wants school leader's deal reviewed, reverted to board-OK'd 1999 version. Tuesday, January 09, 2007 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | The town council president urged school board members Monday night to look at "material changes" in Superintendent Gordon Pethick's July 2005 contract. "You should look at everything and question what the motives were for these changes and why the former board president kept you in the dark," David DeGerolamo read from a statement. Pethick's 2005 contract features several differences from one approved in 2004. Under expenses, the 2005 contract spells out items to be provided to Pethick for business and personal use including a computer, e-mail account and cell phone. Pethick is paid $141,440 a year. Board members must decide before July if they'll renew the contract beyond June 30, 2008. The 2005 contract also contains a clause protecting Pethick if Phillipsburg consolidates with another school district. If not named the new head of the consolidated district, Pethick would receive a lump sum equal to the remaining salary and benefits of his contract. "I ask you to review the changes in the contract, revoke those changes back to the only board-approved contract from 1999," DeGerolamo said. Pethick said he didn't know the root of DeGerolamo's protest. "A lot of these things are standard with (New Jersey Association of School Administrators)," Pethick said. Pethick and school Business Administrator Bill Poch said the school board sets salaries not terms of the contract with nonunion employees. Poch said former school board President Rod Pianelli signed off on the terms. Pianelli did not return a call for comment Monday night. Current board President Paul Rummerfield voted against Pethick when he was hired in 1999. Rummerfield said since he has become president, he's tried to sort out situations such as this contract. "I do not recall discussing or voting on the contract," Rummerfield said. "If there's material changes, I question the legality of that." Rummerfield said he doesn't know who drafted the latest contract. "It's tough to say because we never discussed it," Rummerfield said. DeGerolamo's remarks come at a time when the state is targeting school districts in a push to lower property taxes. The state Senate voted 36-0 Monday on an Assembly-approved bill that would change local school spending policies including regulating travel and expense reimbursements for school board members and district employees. It also would make it more difficult for schools to revise contracts for school administrators and require state approval to buy out a school administrator's contract. Pethick said his contract is a form contract received from the administrators association. DeGerolamo's brother Kevin serves on the school board and as the chairman of the negotiating committee. "I agree with everything (David) said," Kevin DeGerolamo said. "When we bring it up, people think we're instigating something. I think we need to look at it." Twenty-six-year board member Chafik Zarbatany said Pethick has not asked the board for much. "Any changes that have been made have been guided by the state," Zarbatany said. "If anyone had a problem with the contract, they should have brought it up at a board meeting." Former board member Irene Weller attends most board meetings and said the board members knew what was in Pethick's contract. "There is nothing illegal about these contracts," Weller said. Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com. The Associated Press contributed to this article. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used by NJ.com with permission.