Newtown School Officials Receive Raises

The Board of Education approved raises and renewed contracts for three top school district officials following a one-hour executive session Tuesday night at the Municipal Center.

Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson is set to receive a 2.5-percent increase in salary and an increase in retirement contributions while Assistant Superintendent Linda Gejda received a 2-percent increase and Business Director Ron Bienkowski received a 1-percent increase.

All three also had their contracts extended to June 30, 2014. Debbie Leidlein was the only one to oppose Robinson's salary increase. All the other votes were unanimous.

Board members declined to issue comments regarding their decision after the meeting.

Robinson said it was her first salary raise in the three and a half years she has worked for the district. Last year she received an increase in vacation days and a return of furlough days that teachers also received.

During fiscal year 2010-11, Robinson earned a gross salary of $169,932, Bienkowski, $139,922, and Gejda, $145,364, according to the district's data.

Among the 20 superintendents in District Reference Group B – which represent communities with a similar socioeconomic status to Newtown though widely differing populations – Robinson is the 14th highest paid superintendent, which places her in the bottom half of the salary range, according to state data.

However, for that same fiscal year and among 175 superintendents statewide, Robinson is the 39th highest paid superintendent, which places her in the top half of the salary range, according to state data.