Pethick cleared to quit P'burg State education head approves district chief's exit from contract. Saturday, January 12, 2008 • By ANDREA EILENBERGER • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | New Jersey's education commissioner has approved an early separation agreement allowing Phillipsburg Superintendent Gordon Pethick to leave the district sooner than June 30, when his contract is set to expire. Pethick and the board struck a deal Dec. 3, but they couldn't act without Commissioner Lucille Davy's blessing. Davy sent a brief letter stating her approval to board attorney Lester Taylor on Jan. 4. It is unclear when Pethick will serve his last day as superintendent, a post he's held since 1999. School Board President Paul Rummerfield said Friday the board hasn't met since its members learned of the approval, but the issue will likely be discussed during Monday's board meeting. The approximately $167,000 deal with Pethick covers unpaid salary, sick and vacation days as well as a retroactive salary increase. Pethick didn't receive any raises for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years; his pension contributions for those two years will also be adjusted. The sides "reached an agreement to provide Dr. Pethick with salary increases on the same level as have been provided to other professional employees of the district," the agreement states. Under the deal, Pethick's salary is set at $148,977 for the 2006-07 school year and at $154,191 for the 2007-08 school year. The agreement states Pethick will earn the 2007-08 salary through Jan. 1 or until Davy approves it. Rummerfield said the agreement includes that to which Pethick is contractually entitled. The board will also likely discuss on Monday how to fill the gap Pethick's early departure creates. Rummerfield said internal candidates have expressed interest in serving as an interim superintendent. The board had previously decided to look internally as a first step, but held off on further action. "I didn't think interviewing anyone prior to knowing what the Commissioner would rule was the proper thing to do," Rummerfield said. The New Jersey School Boards Association, the organization assisting the board in the search for a long-term superintendent, also has a list of qualified candidates who previously expressed interest in serving as interim administrators. The Phillipsburg board could look to that list if necessary. Neither Taylor nor Pethick returned messages seeking comment Friday. The decision to part ways early followed months of tension between Pethick and most of the board. In June, the board cast a divided vote not to renew his contract past the end of this school year. The December vote to enter into an early separation agreement was also divided. Pethick, who first joined the district in 1972 as a math teacher, said last month he hadn't yet planned his next career move but expressed a commitment to education. Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at aeilenberger@express-times.com.