Elliott Landon: Praised for leadership. Dave Matlow/WN file photoUPDATE The Westport Board of Education voted tonight to extend Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon’s contract until 2012 but not to grant him a pay increase next year.
However, the board did approve up to $15,000 per year incentive payments for Landon in 2010-11 and 2011-12 as well as an additional five days vacation and a $3,000 travel allowance annually beginning July 1.
Last year, the board granted Landon a 5.5 percent pay increase, bringing his current compensation to $276,720.
Chairman Don O’Day said the board met five times to discuss compensation of Landon, Nancy Harris, assistant superintendent for business, and Brian Fagan, assistant superintendent curriculum and professional development. He said all three would not receive salary increases next year.
“The board met a number of different times and literally agonized on this topic,” O’Day said. “How do you look at somebody who’s provided significant worth to the school system and then say ‘but we’re not going to give you an increase’?
“But we did—for a lot of different reasons, none of which—none of which—has to do with performance.”
He said, “It’s all about the times we’re in. We just got finished negotiating a custodian contract with a zero increase. It’s the trend. It’s the times that we’re in.”
O’Day said Harris would also receive a $3,000 annual travel allowance and unspecified “insurance adjustments.”
The board chair said the salary decisions were “not easy. And we’re at a place where we think it’s fair given the condition of the economy and where we’re at right now.”
The board also approved what O’Day had disclosed earlier—that 39 other nonunion board employees, while not getting pay increases, would share in $90,000 incentive payments over the next year as determined by Landon.
The payments would come out of $120,000 originally budgeted for nonunion salary increases for 2009-10, he said.
O’Day said the board had reviewed Landon’s performance over its last three executive sessions and looked at seven different criteria.
He said they ranged “from curriculum to relationship with the Board of Education, to business management, to other characteristics—relationship with the community.”
“There were several areas of significant strength,” O’Day said. “There were also areas where we provided constructive criticism, and I think both of those pieces of conversation were discussed at length.
“And I expect that we’re going to have an even better conversation when we do the 2009-10 review.”
O’Day said next year’s budget will include amounts for nonunion salary increases and Landon’s potential incentive payments.
If Landon receives the maximum $30,000 in incentive payments by 2012, the payments would equate to about a 3.6 percent annual pay increase over his current salary, not including the travel allowance and increased vacation.
O’Day initially made the announcement of Landon’s contract extension during an earlier board ceremony honoring retiring teachers.
Landon, 69, joined the Westport school system in 1999, succeeding Paul Kelleher. His current contact runs until 2010.
Current and former board members and PTA presidents praised Landon for his leadership over the past 10 years, which saw major construction involving town schools as well as curriculum changes.
The fact that the Board of Ed. had to “agonize” over not giving Mr. Landon additional consecutive pay increases is just ludicrous. Let’s get with the program and realize the more then excellent compensation for a town employee with such a controversial status, who has just been granted a swift and easy contract extension. If Mr. Landon wanted to bring some much needed P.R. to his position, he would outright refuse a set term of increases and understand upfront the Boards situation. This might show him in a different light other then just fulfilling his job description.
Amen to that Mr. Nistico….I’m with you
Agonize? Is that really the appropriate word or is the BOE practicing sensitivity training? I agree with Billy…ludicrous! It’s easy to be cast as a “great leader” when plenty of money is thrown at you for major construction projects and curriculum changes during the good years. True leadership skills are developed when the individual accepts and rises to meet these challenges in a proactive manner during the hard times. It is clear to me Dr. Landon has not delivered the goods.
And he’s overpaid!
For most of the past 10 years, the comments following DR L’s contract renewals indicate that some/many people have been displeased with his performance, including me. Yet over this same time period, the BOE has changed membership and leadership, and they consistently say that he is the right man for the job. At this point, I think I/we may have to reconsider our position.
Com’n the Landon Rubber Stamp Increase is on automatic pilot. Just like the lawsuits with Elliot’s name on them.
So it’s about the money, nothing more.
If you’re sincere about reducing the town’s expenditures, then why don’t I see your vocal opposition to taxpayer funded Work Force and so-called “affordable housing”? This burden on you, me and everyone in town is much, much greater financially then 10% of $276,000.
If you want to keep your taxes low, then why don’t you put your efforts towards a cause that will really reap some divdends. Don’t quibble over mere chump change when real dollars are at stake.
And as far as Dr. Landon’s worth, one must look at the results. How have our CAPT scores kept up with previous Superindents or have they improved year after year, how has he improved our school system, how is he viewed as a leader among his subordinates? Basically, you must have some criteria to gauge success, along with goals and objectives and then measure that person against those metrics. I trust our BOE does just that, of course I check in on many issues and usually walk away very satisfied. Do I have suggestions or opionions how to do things differently, yes, but for the most part I’m very satisfied with Dr. Landon and our BOE.
Mr. Murray –
I was truly interested in how you are measuring Dr. Landon’s performance – you have not offered anything (substantive or otherwise) in that regard (although you did seem to have lawsuits in mind involving Dr. Landon – what was that all about?) And Mr. Leyden, I welcome the free expression of opinions, but if you want to make a c-o-n-v-i-n-c-i-n-g argument, or at least one we can judge, you are going to have to go a little further. It was suggested that Dr. Landon is not doing a good job, or is not worth what the town is paying him – fair enough, but can you please tell me how he is not measuring up?
I have seen information to suggest that the Westport school system has made positive strides during Dr. Landon’s term, so I was interested in listening to some contrary information.
Mr. Whittle:
I am glad to know that your requirement to comment on Dr. Landon’s performance requires one to have children in the school system. I do however have many friends in town who have children currently enrolled and better than 2/3 of them are concerned about the Superintendents performance. As a Westport taxpayer, I am concerned with overall fiscal responsibility in every area and most departments reached deep with little or no “whining” to achieve the budget cuts needed. As a taxpayer, I am interested in results not bluster. Landon after all is paid “the big bucks” to administer the school system and is not making the grade. I support a strong school system and know how important it is to have a good educational system but to complain about a 1.3m dollar cutback when the budget is around 100m…not a great sign of leadership in my “school” book!
Mr. Whittle, I’m not trying to convince you of anything. You believe and feel as you wish. I am just stating my opinion/position…nothing more…nothing less. It seems that others feel the same way and are also voicing their opinions.
As I surmised at the outset, it doesn’t seem that any of the negative posters presently have kids in the Westport school system, or even had kids in the school system during Dr. Landon’s stead as Superintendent. While that is not a requirement to have an opinion about how well Dr. Landon is performing (opinions, we all have them . . . .), those who are or have been consumers of the services at issue would seem to be in the best position to offer an assessment on how well these services are being delivered. By the way, it goes without saying that I have two kids in the Westport school system.
Jamie – how is he “not making the grade” as you posit above? (I would like some facts, rather than “many of the people I know don’t like him” statement.) It is precisely statments like that that I am interested in learning of the facts in support, if there are any.
Here is one way to look at this.
In 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008, Westport (Weston and Wilton), scored in the top ten schools in Connecticut (as tabulated by The Hartford Courant from information supplied by the Connecticut Board of Education [I have those reports from the Courant on file for my clients] ).
During that tenure, the status quo has been constant, and we’ve been maintaining the standard since that time. I’d give credit to the front line people who do the real education/work (read: teachers).
Westport has had a high ranking in Connecticut schools regardless of who is in charge. One could dare say as long as they don’t really screw it up, the “manager” just takes the check. Does just “doing the job” qualify for a 10% increase?
To Jack Whittle – I’ve been posting here since before we had to use our real names (Laz), and I guess you don’t recall that I had kids here for 8+ years? I was involved in the redistricting transition process for the middle schools while my kids were in them. I’ve consistently complained about Landon’s (and the BOE too) tendency to tell us the we just can’t understand the complexities of a school budget. Or that measuring the cost of a building in $/sq-ft is archaic. Ot managing FOI responsibilities. Or many other common administrative practices that the adults in town lack the financial or managerial perspective to appreciate. I’m surprised that you’ve allowed him to insult your intelligence all these years, and not taken offense.
As I said several screens above, I am willing to consider that despite the evidence and my personal interactions, Dr Landon is better at his job than I have believed.
PS: I went to Westport schools back when we were one of the top 10 in the nation, not struggling to remain in the top 10 in the state.
Re-read my above posting Jack….1.3million bucks and he whines about that? Look at the budget yourself…I have. As you have stated… you have 2 kids in the system and I am happy to contribute to their education through my hard earned tax dollars…but let’s get a grip on the obvious. You have established your opinion and I have established mine. Additionally, you misquoted me, I stated that “they are concerned with his performance as an administrator…not that they don’t like him”.
By the way…if any of my friends…with kids….who have expressed concern over the way Dr. Landon and others in the school administration have handled the budget…please feel free to chime in. It seems that the “usual suspect posters” are the only only ones with an opinion and as Jack Whittle has surmised…the only negative posters are the ones without kids in the school system. I also happen to agree with Matt Murray…the teachers…are the ones that deserve the real credit! I am sure that is one aspect of this argument Jack and I can agree on.
A revealing question for those posters here (Nistico, Leyden, Walsh, Lasley and Murray) who would have you believe they have ANY direct experience with the performance of the Westport public school system during the last ten years (such as having one of your children in school):
Have any of you had a child in the Westport school system during the last ten years?
<crickets chirping>
If, as I suspect, your answers fall mostly in the “no” column, what metrics are you basing your Landon-performance-bashing comments on, since recent personal experience is not one of them? In my opinion, merely taking issue with Dr. Landon’s advocacy for the school’s budget needs would be a revealing weakness in your argument, since that is his job to champion the school’s needs.
Whether we have children in the school system or not is not relevant. For Billy and I, we promote the school system as one of the features to being a resident of the town. This impacts the value (and sale) of a home.
The issue is Mr. Landon’s ability to get the job done, especially when compared to other administrators, at a fair price.
Just in case the BoE or Mr. Whittle have not seen the news lately, our town/state/country/world is having a little financial issue. In light of the current times one might think to throttle back on some expenditures. As reported in The Hartford Courant, quite a few town and city managers are declining pay increases because of limited budgets, curtailed hours or layoffs of employees.
If Elliot gave just back 10%, I think we could afford to bring back a part-time (or full-time) teacher’s aid. I won’t hold my breath for that to occur.
As an FYI, I went through the entire Weston School system, K-12.
I agree with Mr. Murray’s position completely. I am now and have been a taxpayer in Westport for 45 years and believe I have a right to express an opinion on whether or not Landon should or should not be paid more money irrespective of whether or not I have now or have ever had kids in the Westport School System. Now is a time for fiscal restraint.
Dan,
Staples was rated #1 in Connecticut this year (as a result of sound statistical analysis) and as one of the best in the nation by (I believe) Business Week.
Ah, I haven’t seen the latest reports. That’s quite a step up. Good to know.
I did note that the Newsweek ranking was dubious…but then again, most rankings have their flaws.
I bet if Connecticut Magazine had ranked Staples less than #1, we’d be hearing about their flawed methodology….like the college football rankings get trashed when your team ain’t first.
And according to Newsweek’s (somewhat dubious) ranking of 1,500, high schools nationwide, Staples ranked #522. In fact, the highest ranked Connecticut school was Farmington, #274.(http://www.newsweek.com/id/201160)
Staples is among the very best high schools in Connecticut and all of these rankings are unimportant, especially if the students are doing well.
Jack-
I disagree with your characterization that an antagonistic response was generated. In the end… it truly is good old fashion debate. It also is a fact that the Board of Finance and the RTM have spoken regarding the budget cuts. I believe that many of them are parents with children in the system and also assume…and hope…that they examined the budget with far greater scrutiny than both of us. My issue is with the BoE and Dr. Landon’s apparent clueless approach to the times that we are in. When I look around and see my industry peers working hard to keep their businesses afloat…some taking 25% salary cuts and no bonuses to ensure their employees can feed their families…I think it is a disgrace and infuriating that he get’s the increases as outlined in the above article. I think not having children in the system allows me to look at this issue with little or no emotion but in no way prevents me from understanding what goes on in our school system. As I have previously stated…I pay taxes and have as much right as anyone to voice my comments…children or not.
So one has to have kids in the school system to have any understanding of the education budget? I guess, extending that logic means that only Jamie Walsh can understand the defense budget since he has direct personal experience of military service. Slippery slope here….
If any would like the reports from The Courant, please email me at:
Matt at MattMurray dot com
They are in PDF format.
Amen to that Mr. Walsh…I say again Amen
The Newsweek ranking system is very dubious as it is based on only one criteria which is the number of students taking Advanced Placement tests. These schools do not typically have their own developed curriculum and simply use the AP courses as a curriculum substitute and use the AP test itself as a final exam. Naturally they will have a high percentage of students taking AP tests and it is this high percentage participation that Newsweek equates with high quality education.
The fatal flaw in Newsweek’s evaluation is that it is unidimensional.
PS: Jack
RE: Your last posting
I believe it was Ms. Chowdhury’s post that stated “so one has to have kids in the school system to have any understanding of the education budget”. You did state in an above posting…“those who are or have been consumers of the services at issue would seem in the best position to offer an assessment on how well these services are being delivered. So I think you did come close to saying that.
Anyway, I have made my point and my opinion heard. Enjoy the day!
Gee and I thought I was commenting on how much Landon was being paid…not the Westport School System’s goodness or badness. I just think he’s paid too much irrespective of the gooness or badness of how he does his job. Hmmm…does that mean if he get’s Westport a #1 rating he should be paid $500,000????
“So one has to have kids in the school system to have any understanding of the education budget? “
Had I said that, or even came close to saying that, I would offer an explanation. Perhaps you should re-read my posts above; I was merely making the point that none of those commentators who were highly critical of Dr. Landon’s performance had kids in the school system in Westport currently, or even recently. I was trying to lead these folks to express some support for this view – and I have yet to offer my own view. (It does appear that revealing the lack of factual support for the “poor performance” assessment has generated an antagonistic response from some, others were left to claim that “anybody could have achieved these good results.”
I do stand by my thesis, borne from more than 35 years of witnessing classic Westport squabbling over the school budget – it is almost always those who do not currently have kids in Westport schools who are trying to “reign in” some aspect of the budget, or take down the current superintendent because he or she advocates on behalf of the school system budget.
From today’s (6/24/09) Hartford Courant. Interesting concept.
http://www.courant.com/news/education/hc-uconn-trustees-0624.artjun24,0,7691094,print.story
UCONN ADMINISTRATION
Hogan Turns Down Bonus
Faculty Agreed To Give Up Raises, Too, He Says
By GRACE E. MERRITT
gmerritt@courant.com
STORRS