Annual Evaluation —

School Board Gives Pitkoff Higher Marks

By Larissa Lytwyn

Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff received generally higher marks on his 2003-04 Board of Education evaluation than he did during his first year serving the Newtown district in 2002-03.

Performance was measured on a scale of 1 (unsatisfactory), 2 (marginal), 3 (satisfactory), 4 (above average), and 5 (outstanding).

Scores were derived from the statistical average of the ratings bestowed by the board’s six members: Chairman Elaine McClure, Vice Chairman Lisa Schwartz, Secretary Andy Buzzi, and members David Nanavaty, Paul Mangiafico, and Tom Gissen.

The evaluation was divided into seven sections, including Dr Pitkoff’s relationship with the board, community relations, staff and personnel, business and support services, educational services, comprehensive planning and general management, and professional and personal qualities.

Under “relationship with the board,” Dr Pitkoff’s responsibility to keep board members informed on the “issues, needs and operation of the school system” scored an above-average 4.3.

Additionally, in his efforts to provide effective support to the board through “knowledgeable and responsive comments at board meeting and hearings,” the superintendent’s rating rose from 2.75 during the 2002-03 school year to 3.7 last year.

In his relations with the community, Dr Pitkoff scored highest, a 4.4, for representing Newtown schools through numerous public opportunities.

“[Dr Pitkoff] is out almost every evening attending functions in the community,” noted Board Chair Elaine McClure. “He also is now a member of the Newtown Lions.”

Dr Pitkoff scored lowest, a 3.2, in providing opportunities to “identify community expectations and concerns,” down from 3.8 during 2002-03.

His score rose from 3.1to 3.6 in gaining “the confidence and support of the community in the conduct of school district operations.

He scored a 3.9, up from 3.8, in working “cooperatively and effectively” with public and private agencies, as well as local and state level government, during 2003-04.

Dr Pitkoff scored an average of 4.3 in the staff and personnel area, including encouraging the participation “of appropriate staff members and groups in planning and problem solving.”

Under business and support services, Dr Pitkoff scored a 4.2 for the 2003-04 school year for providing a nutritious and cost-effective food service program.

Last June, the district’s Food Service Committee made a cost-saving effort to hire a new company, Chartwells, over Newtown schools’ previous company, Sodexho.

Sodexho had lost revenue during the past two of its five-year contract.

Further, Business Director Ron Bienkowski revealed during the school board’s last meeting on November 16 that Sodexho was responsible for a cost overrun of $60,000 to $70,000. During the meeting, Mr Bienkowski said he was unclear of the exact source the overrun.

As the 2004-05 school year began, Chartwells provided Newtown with its promised cost-efficient program, including a stringent nutritional philosophy — but not without some arguable “growing pains.”

Throughout the fall, some students and parents have expressed concern over food quantity and quality, as well as high-priced a la carte items.

However, the evaluation was done for the 2003-04 school year, when Chartwells had initially been hired as an innovative, cost-efficient choice over Sodexho.

As for current concerns, Ms McClure said that the board and Chartwells have continued to work together to improve the company’s quality of service.

Dr Pitkoff’s score ensuring “safe, reliable, and efficient pupil transportation” rose dramatically, from 2.6 during the transitory three-to-four tier bus system established at the end of the 2002-03 school year to 4.2 during the 2003-04 school year.

When the revamped bus system kicked off turbulently in fall 2003, with late-arriving, ill-coordinated schedules, the board made strong efforts to repair the scope of the problem within approximately a month.

In January 2004, Transportation Director Mary Kelly retired and was replaced with Tony DiLonardo of Waterbury.

Last June, a progressive software system, VersaTrans, was implemented to ease the complexity of route scheduling. This past fall, students and parents reported few problems with transportation quality.

Dr Pitkoff’s score fell, however, from 4.4 to 3.9 in providing “financial reports consistent with good practice.”

In the remaining categories, educational services, comprehensive planning and general management, and professional and personal qualities, Dr Pitkoff scored an average of 4.2.

Under professional and personal qualities, Dr Pitkoff received a perfect 5 for “keeping abreast of current trends in education and management” and participating in professional developmental activities.

Contract Renewed

During a special executive session meeting held this past June 22, the school board unanamoisuly approved extending Dr Pitkoff’s contract to June 30, 2007.

The nonunion contract is separate from the administrators’ contract currently under arbitration.

“At the end of the second year [of the superintendent’s contract], the decision is made by the board on whether or not the contract should be renewed through the next three years,” Mr Bienkowski explained.

Also set for renewal was Assistant Superintendent of Schools’ Alice Jackson and Mr Bienkowski’s contracts.

All were set to expire at the end of the 2004-05 school year.

With his contract now extended, Dr Pitkoff’s current annual salary of $149,500 is subject to a 3.13 percent increase per academic year until 2006-07.