November 6, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 FLOW Area Board approves bonus goals for superintendent by Frank J. McMahon The Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Edu- cation has approved several criteria for the interim superintendent to achieve by the end of his term in August 2014 in order to receive certain merit bonuses. If the crite- ria are met, Ernest Palestis, could receive up to 15 percent of his base salary in merit bonuses. When Palestis was appointed in May, his salary was established at $606 per day for the days actually worked, but not more than an annual salary of $157,500. It was agreed at that time that he could, however, receive merit pay of up to 15 percent if cer- tain quantitative and qualitative criteria are met. A recent state law capped superinten- dent salaries according to the number of students in the district and the merit bonus plan is an approved method of increasing those salary caps. The criteria for the merit bonuses include the successful implementation of the 1:1 Laptop Initiative, increasing the average score on Advanced Placement tests, increasing classified students’ scores on the High School Proficiency Assessment in mathematics, and improving community communication and engagement with the three towns that make up the school district (Franklin Lakes, Oakland, and Wyckoff). Trustee Elizabeth Pierce pointed out that the merit bonus plan is supported by the New Jersey School Boards Associa- tion and is permitted by the Bergen County Executive Superintendent. She pointed out that other school districts are approving similar bonus plans and that, even with the bonuses, Palestis’ salary will be less than the $197,500 salary of the district’s previ- ous superintendent. Trustee Kenneth Porro also explained the rationale of the merit bonus plan, saying that when the employees of a private com- pany do a good job, the company’s chief executive officer is often rewarded. The board’s approval of the merit bonus plan came after a 90-minute closed session meeting of the board that followed the regu- lar public meeting on Oct. 21. At that meet- ing, a strong objection to the merit bonuses was voiced by the Ramapo Indian Hills Education Association. During the regular public meeting, the leaders of the RIHEA, which has a contract that will expire in June 2014, spoke out against the merit bonuses for the interim superintendent. Barbara Duhig, president of the RIHEA, which represents the teachers and other dis- trict employees, pointed out that if all the goals are achieved, Palestis would receive a total of a 15 percent increase in the salary he received when he began to serve the dis- trict. She questioned if that would cause the district to exceed its state-mandated budget increase cap of two percent. Cherylin Roeser, the vice president and chief negotiator for the RIHEA, said she (continued on page 25)