Swampscott superintendent passes on raise

SWAMPSCOTT – Thanks but no thanks is the message Superintendent Matthew Malone sent to the School Committee Friday.In his letter to the School Committee, Malone said he would not accept an increase in compensation above his current salary and benefits for Fiscal Year 2010 in order to help preserve positions and maintain the instructional core in the upcoming fiscal year.”To be clear, I will lead the system in achieving the strategic goals of the School Committee and I will seek no increased compensation for having achieved them,” he wrote. “Both personally and professionally my commitment to public service has never been about money and I want to thank you for affording me the opportunity to lead the Swampscott Public Schools”Malone said he declined a raise because he believes it’s the right thing to do.”Locally I think we all need to tighten our belts,” he said. “I am hoping other folks step up to help save jobs. The bottom line is you can’t spend more than you have and we all have to live within our means.”School Committee Chairman David Whelan said Malone has already informed the School Committee he would not renew his contract when it expires in June 2010 and the School Committee appreciates his decision to forgo a pay increase without being asked to do so.”No one solicited Matt (Malone) to do this,” School Committee Chairman David Whelan said. “I give him a lot of credit. He is leading by example at a time when we are asking teachers and other employees to consider making concessions when it comes to pay increases.”Whelan said Malone received a 2 percent pay increase last year.”I don’t know what we would have decided on for a pay increase,” he said. “But this pre-empts us from even having to have that discussion for next year. We will still do a performance evaluation but pay increases are not on the table.”School Committee member Joseph Crimmins said Malone’s gesture speaks volumes about him as an educator.”As I told Dr. Malone I think it’s a class act,” he said. “It’s the old axiom – leadership by example is the most compelling way of leading. There are pay freezes everywhere in the private sector and for him to proceed with this on his own iniative shows strong leadership. I’m not terribly surprised. Matt (Malone) is not doing the job for the money; he is doing it because he loves the work.”