Greenwich Board of Ed Extends Superintendent McKersie's Contract

For the first time in more than a decade, it appears that Greenwich Public Schools will have continuity in its leadership.

The Board of Education unanimously voted June 17 to extend Superintendent of Schools William S. McKersie’s contract through June 30, 2017. 

Historically, the district was unable to keep superintendents for more than two or three years. McKersie was appointed in 2012 to succeed Roger Lulow who returned to the district to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Sidney Freund.

At the board’s June 17 meeting, Vice Chairman Jennifer Dayton pointed to McKersie’s strong relationship building efforts with students, staff, parents and the broader community, and oversight of district accomplishments including the implementation of Common Core State Standards in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics, the merging of the State’s System for Educator Evaluation and Development (SEED) with the District’s Teacher Evaluation and Professional Learning (TEPL) plan, and the administration of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Field Test this spring. 

In a statement, Board Chairman Barbara O’Neill said, “With an eye toward securing continuity and building upon the positive momentum in student learning and achievement, instructional practices such as Digital Learning and efforts to connect to the public, the Board of Education is pleased to extend the contract of Superintendent Dr. McKersie by two years." 

O'Neill added, "We believe that consistency of leadership will translate into improved academic success for our students. This will be the first time in 12 years that a superintendent has committed to stay beyond the initial three-year contract. We are gratified that we have this opportunity to stay the course with Dr. McKersie.”

Here are the details of McKersie's contract renewal:

• Salary: $226,000 for 2013-2014 
• Salary: $232,554 for 2014-2015 
• Salary: 2015- 2016 to be negotiated but not less than $232,554 
• Annuity and Deferred Compensation: $15,000 per year no change from last year 
• Housing allowance: $3,000 per month 
• Car allowance: $275 per month 
• Health, life insurance, sick days and vacation benefits similar to other 
• administrators 
• Support for professional development and memberships to professional organizations 

Of the contract renewal, McKersie said, "I am humbled by the support from the Board of Education to extend my service as Superintendent of the Greenwich Public Schools. In the last two years that I have lived and worked in Greenwich, I have become deeply invested in the schools and in the community."

McKersie added, "My commitment is to do all I can to have Greenwich known nationally as a school system that accelerates learning for all students, provides robust artistic, musical, athletic and social programming, promotes civic dedication and service, and fosters in all staff and students an unwavering focus on compassion and caring."

At the June 17 meeting, the board also discussed the Superintendent’s annual evaluation. In a statement submitted by O’Neill, she said, “We are pleased with the Superintendent's leadership in guiding the successful implementation of SBAC, SEED, and the Common Core Standards along with the digital learning initiative in the two elementary schools. We look forward in 2014-2015 to the implementation of the K-12 Assessment System, the Racial Balance plan and his cooperation in the development of the Board's Strategic Plan.”

Before coming to Greenwich, he served as the Associate Superintendent for Academic Excellence for the Archdiocese of Boston and as the Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations for Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. 

He lives in Greenwich, with his wife Katherine, and their two daughters. His two teenage sons live in Boston, MA