Salary, Contract Details Released For East Haven Schools Chief

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

EAST HAVEN, CT – New Superintendent of Schools Erica Forti will be earning $175,000 a year and has been given a three-year contract, according to Board of Education Chairman John Finkle.

Forti, who has been acting school superintendent since June 30th, was hired as full-time superintendent at the school board’s most recent meeting.

Finkle said that Forti’s salary is the same as former School Superintendent Dr. Portia Bonner, who did not have her contract extended at the end of last year by the board.

“I believe Erica is the right person for the job as did the majority of the board,” said Finkle on Wednesday.

Forti was hired after an executive session meeting of the board. When the board came out of the executive session, a motion was made by board member MaryAnn Pellegrino to table the vote on hiring Forti to a future meeting. That motion failed by a 5-3 vote.

After that vote, a motion was by Finkle to go ahead with the hiring of Forti. All voted in favor of the hiring except for board members Louis Pacelli and Christine Maisano, who abstained.

Maisano said she did not feel comfortable voting without a contract in front of her. Furthermore she stated she felt the process was not finished, was rushed and not transparent. Pacelli said he agreed with Maisano.