Following publication the Bayport-Blue Point School District provided Patch additional feedback to the article:
UPDATED INFO
The Bayport-Blue Point School District said the proposal was just one of many options it is considering as it works to explore how to best supervise the personnel department. At this time, the the possible option of creating the new admin role described to incorporate personnel management is not moving forward and the district will continue to explore its options.
Original Story:
The Bayport-Blue Point Board of Education is continuing to table a proposal to create a new administrative role for current Athletic Director Tim Mullins.
The new proposed job, which would give Mullins a $5,000 salary increase, was initially listed as a board resolution action at the November 20 meeting and then tabled during that meeting, as well as at the following meeting held on December 4, 2012. It was not known why the board of education voted to table the resolution.
A Freedom of Information request by Patch regarding a description of the job and any work papers related to the new role’s responsibilities and justification for the new title was denied by the district. In its reply the district stated the documents are “not final agency policy or determinations,” as yet.
School district officials declined to publicly comment this week on the new role proposal.
The tabled resolution is not mentioned on the BOE agenda for tonight’s meeting at 7 p.m. at the high school.
“The Board has not taken any action with regards to creating a [new administrative] position and at this time all remains status quo,” a spokesperson stated in an email to Patch Tuesday morning.
Mullins’ current title is director of physical education, health & interscholastic sports. He is currently employed under the Administrators' Association agreement which expires June 2014 and provided a salary increase of $3,500 this past July and another in July 2013, per the contract documents.
Yet the tabled resolution indicates a new job description has been completed with the new job title of Executive Director of Personnel, Athletics, Physical Education and Health.
As described in the board minutes of the November 20 meeting, the new job is a recommendation of former interim superintendent Neil Lederer. Dr. Vincent Butera officially took the school chief role as of December 3, 2012.
The resolution states the job is being created “in the best economic and organizational interests of the Bayport-Blue Point UFSD,” and that the new job title would be effective as of December 1, 2012.
According to the resolution, the district is allowed by law to appoint Mullins to the new position. A call by Patch to the New York State Education Department regarding rules related to new administrative jobs and the hiring and interviewing requirements was not returned immediately.
The resolution states that since 50 percent or more of Mullin’s current duties would be “subsumed” within the newly created position the appointment action is legal. If appointed Mullins would be provided his current tenure in the position.
Bayport resident Rita Palma has also requested a copy of the proposed job contract document.
“Apparently, the board members disagree on it. I have requested to see the contract. I have not received a response but I suspect that I will get one from counsel explaining why they don't have to give it to me,” she told Patch in an email.
“They have the choice. They choose to keep it under shrouds until it is a done deal and the public has no chance to weigh in. Shouldn't they be willing to stand by their decision, if, in fact, it's a good decision?” she added.
Palma believes the Open Meetings Law mandates the board must provide documentation of the proposal.
“Since this has been a recurring discussion for the BOE and tabled twice, I'm assuming documentation is accessible and able to be posted on line,” she said.
