Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Gets Pay Raise

GREENWICH, CT — Dr. Toni Jones, Superintendent of Greenwich Public Schools, will receive a 2% pay raise for the year beginning July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, after the Board of Education voted on the matter during their meeting on Thursday night. Jones' contract was also extended two years through the end of the 2024 school year.

Jones will make $241,372 up from $236,640.

"I think this is a no-brainer. Toni took a zero last year. Two percent to me seems more than reasonable," said Board of Education member Kathleen Stowe. The Board of Estimate and Taxation met Monday night and voted for a two percent increase for the town management employees, so the raise is in-line.

Stowe praised Jones for her work over the last two years. Jones came to Greenwich from Fairfield, and has provided stability to a position that had been somewhat of a revolving door for the school district in recent years.

"I was very lucky to lead the search for Dr. Jones a couple of years ago. She has by far exceeded my expectations. She is a thoughtful, strong leader who aims to somehow please all the different stakeholders and that's not easy," Stowe said.

The Board of Education met with Jones last week in executive session for the purpose of conducting an evaluation of her efforts for the 2020/2021 school year. In his comments during Thursday's meeting, BOE Chair Peter Bernstein commended Jones for the work she has done so far, especially during the pandemic.

"Any discussion around this year must start with the response to COVID and the return to school. The lessons of last spring and summer school certainly guided Dr. Jones and the district in developing a plan and ensuring regular communication with the Board and the Community throughout the process. You took our feedback and criticism from last year on wanting live learning and better remote learning and responded," Bernstein said. "You kept us informed as the state guidance regularly shifted. You held multiple forums with the parents to allay fears and explain options. You were accessible, you listened, and you were responsive to our needs."

Bernstein said Jones "showed grace" during the budget season and didn't get flustered by questions from the Board or other town bodies. He also said Jones and her team continue to lead on capital projects for the district.

Bernstein went on to say that Jones has made difficult choices and changes, and she shouldn't be afraid to make further changes as needed.

"However, now that you’ve had two years in the district and have put a structure in place through your hiring and staffing decisions you really must start to delegate more. This will provide you the opportunity to focus on more strategic issues and ensure that staff is executing," Bernstein said. "Overall you have helped create a culture by having a plan and then implementing that plan. You stand your ground when needed and you always keep moving forward. Your work ethic is off the charts and you are self-motivated - you clearly set the tone for those around you. We thank you for your continued strong leadership and the stability that you have brought to the district."

Before the vote to extend Jones, Board of Education member Karen Kowalski said the board should send out an anonymous survey to administrators, staff and parents to get a clear sense of the approval or disapproval of Jones' tenure so far.

"I think it would be prudent to have that review of Dr. Jones as Superintendent prior to this board making a decision to make sure that we have all the information available to us," Kowalski said. "It's one of the most important decisions that this board makes."

Both Kowalski and BOE Member Peter Sherr said that it would be better for a new Board of Education to make these types of decisions after the next election. Kowalski said she was more comfortable with extending Jones for one year.

Fellow Board member Christina Downey said a survey would "not be a productive use of time," as feedback is constantly coming in from around the district.

Kowalski also argued that a "reciprocal clause for both of us to have the right to terminate the contract without cause" was "glaringly missing" from Jones' contract.

"Dr. Jones is able to terminate and walk away. We as a board and as a community don't have that ability to do that. We only have the ability under a mutual release. That means we have to have mutual understanding that the relationship needs to end," Kowalski said.

"I can't imagine the message we would send to a community saying, 'Well, we want to be able to get rid of you any time we feel like getting rid of you,'" Bernstein said, adding that Board has a "statutory responsibility" to select a Superintendent. "We don't say to Dr. Jones, 'There's an election in November, we're going to see what the outcome is, let that [Board] figure it out.'"

The motion to extend Jones' contract by two years passed 6-2, with Kowalski and Sherr voting no.