Marblehead superintendent to receive raise

MARBLEHEAD – The School Committee has evaluated Superintendent of Schools Paul Dulac’s first year in Marblehead. The reviews are largely favorable and Dulac will receive a raise to indicate that.Committee members have voted him a 4 percent raise, adding $6,480 to his $162,000 salary for a new total of $168,480. They also gave him a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year – he is expected to head the local schools until 2011, and extending that to 2012 if he exercises the option.A six-page collection of comments from School Committee Chair Amy Drinker and 2007-2008 committee members Rob Dana, Jonathan Lederman, James Dearborn and Patricia Blackmer, compiled by Drinker, summed up Dulac’s first year with the words, “Dr. Dulac’s energy level is impressive.”When Drinker’s compilation was distributed to members at Wednesday’s School Committee retreat, Dearborn pointed out that Dulac was able to deal with construction projects at two schools – the Marblehead Village School renovations and the replacement of the Glover and Eveleth elementary schools – during a “particularly abnormal” school year. Dearborn recalled seeing Dulac at a spring ceremony for elementary school third graders, who will attend the Village School this fall.”I look up and say, ‘Does that guy ever give up?” Dearborn said.Committee members noted some shortcomings, including a personnel issue at Marblehead High that Lederman called attention to, and his enthusiastic but verbose speaking style.”(Dr. Dulac) sometimes has the tendency to circle a point and make it from too many directions, which tends to lose people. He is at his best when his remarks are short and concise.”Dulac admitted Wednesday that being concise is something people have been asking him to do all his life. “I’m not sure I’m capable,” he said, smiling.