Schools
Burlington To Pay Ex-Special Ed Director Through End Of June
Meanwhile the school district is paying her acting replacement $150 per hour, or $850 per day.
BURLINGTON, MA -- Louise D'Amato, who resigned as Burlington's special education director last month, will continue to be paid by the school system through the end of the fiscal year. D'Amato will also receive 51.33 in unused vacation days worth $29,381.24 and will be eligible to file for state unemployment benefits, according to a copy of her separation agreement Burlington Patch obtained from the school system under the state public records law.
In addition, the district is paying Robert McArdle $150 per hour -- or $850 per day -- to serve as acting director of the program. McArdle is the retired director of the Woburn Special Education Program and Walker Partnership and has held similar interim posts in recent years, including an interim director's post in Andover in 2015 and the Merrimack Special Education Collaborative in 2011.
D'Amato was placed on leave in early October and resigned November 13. Her annual salary, based on her vacation pay, works out to about $143,000 annually. The agreement said she will have no formal duties for the remainder of the school year. The agreement also allows D'Amato to accept a new position while being paid by the district.
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The agreement provides for a reference letter from Superintendent Eric Conti and allows D'Amato to list other Burlington Schools employees as references. The agreement includes a non-disparagement clause and a confidentiality clause.
"If additional inquiries are made by staff or parents, the School District will only state there has been a 'mutual decision and agreement to separate employment'," the agreement said.
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Conti previously said the district will have no further comment on the matter.
- Burlington Special Education Director Resigns (11/21/2017)
- Questions Remain Over Burlington Special Ed Director's Leave (11/20/2017)
- Burlington Parents Ask For Explanation On Special Ed Director's Unexplained Leave (10/13/2017)
- Burlington Special Education Director On Unexplained Leave (10/11/2017)
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Patch file photo.
Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).
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