Fired Burlington High School Teacher Received Full Year's Salary

BURLINGTON, MA -- A Burlington High School science teacher placed on administrative leave at the start of the 2017-18 school year received his entire salary for agreeing to resign and not take any legal action against Burlington Public Schools. Dr. Peter Nassif was paid his full salary of $111,360, as well as $5,153 for heading two clubs and a $500 attendance bonus, according to his resignation agreement. The agreement also gives Nassif $10,000 for five school days and 10 additional days for the current, 2018-19 school days.

The document was signed by Nassif and the school department on April 2. In addition to the full year's salary, the school system agreed to remove an August 3, 2017 Notice of Intent to Dismiss letter and a September 5, 2017 Letter of Dismissal from Nassif's personnel file. The agreement, which Burlington Patch obtained through an open records request, also said the school system would announce his departure in a retirement announcement that both sides agreed to.

The agreement does not specify why Nassif was placed on leave and ultimately terminated by the School System.

The document's release comes as the school system prepares to go to town meeting next month to ask for money to cover over-spending during the 2017-18 school year. Part of the deficit has been attributed to higher-than expected costs for substitute teachers, as well as severance agreements like the one Nassif received.

It was at least the second severance Burlington Public Schools paid out in the 2017-18 school year. In November, the school system agreed to pay Louise D'Amato, who resigned in October as special education director, her $143,000 annual salary through the end of the school year. She also received $29,381.24 for unused vacation days.

D'Amato was also allowed to apply for unemployment under the terms of her agreement. Nassif, as part of his agreement, agreed to withdraw any pending unemployment claims against the school system.

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Photo by Burlington Public Schools.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).