SAUGUS — The superintendent of Saugus Public Schools will not receive a raise this year.
A $3,750 raise for Superintendent David DeRuosi was originally proposed as part of the Fiscal Year 2019 budget. But, while closing out the budget in a short meeting earlier this month, School Committee member Liz Marchese questioned why DeRuosi had withdrawn the raise.
“In order to move other non-unit raises forward, it was agreed and voted that mine would be taken back,” said DeRuosi.
Marchese said she remembered DeRuosi saying he would give up the raise, but didn’t remember taking a vote. The board decision was in September, he said.
DeRuosi was awarded a three-year contract with the district in 2016 that included a $175,000 salary with the opportunity for raises. It was renewed for two more years in a divided vote in 2018. Marchese and committee member Lisa Morgante voted against it, citing concerns with the lack of communication between them and DeRuosi.
The panel will meet for a Saturday morning workshop on July 27 to evaluate the superintendent’s performance.
Before DeRuosi was hired, the average tenure for a superintendent was well under a year.
Matthew Malone was chosen as interim superintendent in 2015 following the resignation of Michael Tempesta.
Malone resigned suddenly, which led to Saugus High School principal Michael Hashem stepping in to fill his shoes until DeRuosi was hired.
DeRuosi’s contract expires in 2021.
