New Saugus super makes it official

SAUGUS – New Saugus Superintendent Michael Tempesta officially signed his new contract and the School Committee voted unanimously to accept it.The three-year contract starts July 1 and pays him $142,000 annually.?It feels great,” said Tempesta, who has served as principal of Milford High School for the last three years. “I?m excited to begin the transition. Richard Langlois has been wonderful in our conversations and meetings ahead of time to get things ready. Everyone has been so warm and inviting.”Tempesta said he?s been to Saugus twice since his initial tour to meet with Langlois to get a transition plan ready.?I need to finalize my entry plan and go over that with dates and times and set up meetings with people within the district and town agencies,” said Tempesta, who will attend next week?s School Committee meeting. “I still have to close out and work on the replacement for my position in Milfrod and we?re working on that now.”School Committee Chairman Wendy Reed said negotiating the contract was an easy process, noting the School Committee is excited to have him aboard.?I?m glad we finally signed and he already has a full slate of appointments set up starting today,” said Reed. “We have a lot of open issues that he?ll be sitting in with (Langlois) on, including our special education director. Applications are in so they?ll start screening that together.”Tempesta?s contract included 25 vacation days per year, with up to five days carried over from one year to the next. The contract can be terminated by the School Committee by a two-thirds vote and the superintendent must provide 180 days notice to resign or terminate the contract. He will also be provided with a cellphone and laptop computer.School Committee member Arthur Grabowski said he thinks the contract is “really good” and “fair.”?It?s good for the town compared to others we?ve had,” he said. “We have the 180-day clause in there. The past situation was 90-day ? Which gives us more time in case something happens, but I?m not anticipating something to happen.”Grabowski said even though he didn?t vote for Tempesta, he said he?s “100 percent for him.”?The vote was the vote,” said Grabowski. “It?s the democratic process to vote what you feel at the time, but since he?s on board I?m more than happy to support him 110 percent. We?re going to have to hit the ground running come July and lead on and do some good things and maybe some innovative things to bring up the test scores and bring the schools back in line.”Michael Tempesta is no relation to Daily Item reporter Matt Tempesta.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].