Salzer action may cost Marblehead money

MARBLEHEAD – The Marblehead School Committee appeared to have saved money by breaking a signed contract with school business manager candidate Brian Salzer – but they could wind up spending money to settle a lawsuit as a result.Committee members spent nearly three hours in executive session Wednesday morning with “potential litigation” on their list of items to be discussed.Later that day, Chairman Patricia Blackmer declined to discuss any specifics about the legal matter or anything else discussed during the closed-door session. Committee members have scheduled another morning meeting next Wednesday, with another executive session on the agenda.Salzer left his position as Swampscott High principal after signing a contract to become Marblehead’s school business manager and he refused a Swampscott offer to remain. He will not be rehired there, according to new Superintendent Lynn Celli.Meanwhile committee members continue to oversee Acting Superintendent of Schools Robert Bellucci’s contract negotiations with an unnamed food service director and school business manager.Acting School Business Manager George Gearhart said Wednesday that he will continue to work three days a week on school finances until a permanent school business manager is named and he will also assist the new manager during the transition.Salzer was nominated for the business manager post for two years at a salary of $125,000 by Superintendent of Schools Paul Dulac, who has been on medical leave since a May bypass operation.The salary was only $1,000 more than he was receiving as principal of Swampscott High, but $22,000 more than Dulac had budgeted and on June 17 School Committee members rejected the contract because it was over budget.Although Salzer was willing to renegotiate, Bellucci apparently could not arrive at a settlement that the School Committee could approve and after a three-hour executive session on June 23 the committee voted to reopen the school business manager search.Salzer came to Newton as principal of Newton South High in 2006. After three years there he announced to school parents that he was looking for a post as superintendent. He arrived in Swampscott as high school principal last fall while Swampscott was in search for a superintendent.His career history raised questions for at least one Marblehead School Committee member, since Marblehead will be searching for a superintendent in 2010-2011.”He’s looking for a job as superintendent,” Dick Nohelty said during the committee’s June 17 public session. “If he doesn’t get the superintendent’s job here he could be gone. I’d like to see us hire someone who will stay for a while.” Nohelty and Eurim Chun met Salzer in May at Dulac’s office.