Popular Schools Chief's Extra Work 'Benefits Guilford': BOE

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

GUILFORD, CT – The issue of additional responsibilities taken on by the superintendent of schools outside of Guilford – and whether that takes away from his job – was discussed at a Board of Education of meeting last month.

Dr. Paul Freeman, in addition to being superintendent of schools, also spends time as a professor at the University of Connecticut and travels internationally to Jordan.

At the school board meeting, board member Alan Meyers that there “some recent public comments that Dr. Freeman was not providing full time service to Guilford.”

Meyers, and other board members, said nothing could be further from the truth.

Meyers said he knows that Freeman “puts in 150 percent effort into his job as superintendent of Guilford public schools.”

Freeman said he does teach at UConn – and travel to Jordan – but he told the board he does both either on his own time and/or “uses vacation time.”

School board Chairman William Bloss said the board believes that any of the extra work Freeman performs on his own time “ultimately benefits Guilford as he is able to take the knowledge and experience he gains and apply it to his position as Guilford superintendent.”

In July of this year, the school board by a unanimous vote extended Freeman’s contract through June 30th of 2020, also giving him a 2.25 percent pay increase, go $222,515.

When his contract was renewed, Bloss said: “Guilford’s schools are in great shape, and while that is due to the work of every administrator, faculty member, and staff member, Dr. Freeman’s leadership has been a leading factor in our high levels of achievement.”

Freeman began working as Guilford school superintendent in 2011.