In a split vote that generated some controversy, the Massapequa School Board approved salary increases and some additional benefits for central office administrators last month. The only dissenting vote was from School Board Trustee Tim Taylor who said that the raises went beyond what the residents of the district could afford.

"In light of the current economy, with people worrying how they are going to fill up their cars and their oil tanks, I wanted a freeze on salaries," said Taylor. "These are very good employees but they are already making good salaries and this is just not the time to be handing out raises."

The vote was taken at the school board meeting Aug. 7. When Taylor opposed the resolution, some of the school board members expressed shock and disapproval.

"I thought we were in agreement on this," Maryann Fisher, school board president, said to Taylor.

"They were trying to embarrass him," said Gracemarie Rozea, a resident. "It was very offensive and it appeared to me as if they were trying to intimidate him."

Taylor said he was not upset with the exchange. "I have a right to vote the way I believe is right," he said, adding that the other school board members may have assumed he would go along with the salary increases when he asked them in executive session to consider a more reasonable alternative. "They didn't, and I didn't say anything else, so they may have thought I was on board, when I clearly was not," said Taylor.

Several attempts to reach school board president Maryann Fisher were not successful. She did not return phone calls, nor respond to an email request for comment on behalf of the board.

Following the meeting, however, the District's Acting Superintendent Charles Sulc said that salary considerations on an annual basis for the members of the central office are part of the district's bylaws, and that the school board approved the most recent raises following a review of data that showed that these salary lines were within the median range of what is being offered in Nassau County. In addition, he noted that the administrative employees in Massapequa are now paying 18.3 percent of the cost of the health insurance coverage, an increase from 16.7 percent.

"What the school board did was look at what other districts in Nassau are doing, and moved toward the middle with its salaries," said Sulc. "They have been consistently responsible by asking every employee in the district to contribute to the escalating costs of health care coverage and will continue to do that as costs rise."

He pointed out that the per-pupil costs in Massapequa are the fourth or fifth lowest in the county at just above $20,000, and that its test scores are in the top ten percent. "This is a great accomplishment not only of the administrators but of the students, parents and educators in Massapequa," said Sulc.

The salary increases are for central office administrators Alan Adcock, assistant superintendent for business; Susan Woodbury, assistant superintendent for secondary education; Lucille Iconis, assistant superintendent for elementary education; Robert Schilling, executive director for assessment, student data and technology; Vincent D'Amico, assistant business administrator, and Anthony LoFaso, director of facilities and operations. All represent an approximate 4 percent increase; Schilling's is an 8 percent raise. They break down as follows:

•Adock went from $193,848 to $201,602, a $7,754 or 4 percent raise;

•Woodbury and Iconis went from $161,616 to $168,081, or a $6,465 or 4 percent raise;

•Schilling went from $125,632 to $135,819, a $10,187 or 8 percent raise. Unlike the other central office employees, Schilling is aligned with the principals and directors, who receive salary increases as well as step increases. The raise for Schilling includes both, bringing him to step five on the 8-step contract;

•D'Amico went from $116,459 to $121,117, a $4,658 or 3.9 percent raise;

•Wagner went from $80,730 to $83,959, a $3,229 or 3.9 percent raise.

•LoFaso will earn $120,000 between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2008 and $124,800 Jan. 1 through June 30, 2009.

Each assistant superintendent will receive $6,000 a year toward a tax-sheltered annuity of their choice, and the executive director will receive a $2,000 district contribution.

The district's bylaws require that these employees work a full year, from July 1 through June 30 and receive 16 paid holidays per year. They each receive an additional 12 sick days and three personal days, up to five bereavement days and 30 days vacation. They will receive extra stipends for service for special projects and a stipend of between $2,500 and $5,000 for outstanding exceptional performance upon recommendation of the superintendent of schools.

Central office employees also receive longevity payments; $1,500 a year for ten years of continuous service; $2,500 for 15 years; $3,000 for 20 years and $5,500 for 30 or more years. They contribute 20 percent to the cost of the premium for either individual or family health-care coverage.

The district approved a four-year contract for its 19 principals, directors and associates earlier in the year, passing along 3.45, 3.45, 3.4 and 3.4 percent increases. Salaries for principals went up to $147,00, depending on experience or years with the district; to $149,000 for junior high school and to $157,000 for high school principals. Directors went to $142,000, vice principals to $140,000 and curriculum associates to $136,000 a year, again, depending on experience and years with the district. Taylor had opposed that contract as well, saying it went beyond what local taxpayers could afford.