Superintendent Freeman Given Extended Contract and Raise
Although Superintendent of Schools Paul Freeman has only been the school district leader for eight months, his work over that period has paid off to the tune of an extended contract and raise.
On June 25, the Board of Education (BOE) unanimously voted to approve a contract extension to June 30, 2015 and a 2.95 percent raise, bringing Freeman's salary from $182,000 to approximately $187,000. The increase became effective on July 1 of the new fiscal year.
"I'm thrilled to have my contract extended. I continue to be impressed by the Guilford community and I continue to feel very lucky and honored to have been selected to be a part of the community," Freeman said. "I'm proud of all the work we're doing and I'm happy to be able to continue that work."
Freeman took over as superintendent of schools on Nov. 28, after the former school leader Thomas Forcella left to lead the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City district in North Carolina. Before making the decision to work in Guilford, Freeman was the superintendent of Griswold Public Schools.
BOE Chairman William Bloss stated that Freeman's work over the past few months proved to be nothing short of impressive, especially with his work in implementing several key programs.
"We are very, very impressed with his performance during his time with us so far. We believe him to be a true leader in curriculum reform and he has managed to tackle some issues that have been troubling for us for many years, like starting an in-house autism program that he did within existing budget appropriations," Bloss stated. "He is an excellent communicator and I've heard from many, many people in the community who deeply appreciate the way he has reached out in the transition since he's came on board."
Bloss explained that under his contract, Freeman could have received anywhere from a zero to six percent raise. Based on balancing the overall town and education budgetary situation, the fiscal needs of the town, and his performance, the BOE believed a 2.95 percent raise was the most appropriate figure.
Bloss also said that Freeman has proven to be a strong leader in the midst of significant changes.
"He has some rather complicated issues on his plate right now between the new high school building and new administrators," Bloss said. "We've also had a lot of retirements from the teaching staff and we have the special education report that he's tackling so it has been a busier time with us then he had anticipated but he is clearly up to it."
Despite these changes, Freeman said he is ready for the challenge and looks forward to spending his time in Guilford.
"It's a very busy time, but I honestly think it's the most exciting time we've had in education, certainly in my career," Freeman stated. "There are things changing nationally, there are things changing at the state level, and we're doing some really good and exciting work in Guilford so I'm very happy to be here."