Contract Terms Finalized with New Salem Public Schools Superintendent

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, who chairs the Salem School Committee, announced on Tuesday, that the School Committee has finalized terms on a proposed three-year contract with Margarita Ruiz, the incoming new superintendent of the Salem Public Schools.

Ruiz will start on July 1 and is proposed to receive compensation in her first year equal to the current superintendent’s salary at $180,300. In the second and third year of the contract she will receive a 3 percent increase each year, provided she meets or exceeds certain benchmarks in her performance evaluations. The Salem School Committee will vote on the proposed contract at their meeting on April 6.

Ms. Ruiz is expected to attend the April 6 School Committee meeting and there will be a brief reception, from 7 to 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee chambers at the Collins Middle School, prior to the meeting. In addition, students, parents, staff and community members will have a chance to speak with Ms. Ruiz between now and the start of her term during a series of three evening ‘meet-and-greet’ receptions to be held on April 14, April 28, and April 30 (locations to be determined).

Current School Superintendent Dr. Stephen Russell announced last fall he would be leaving at the end of the school year. Following that notification, a Superintendent Screening Committee was formed consisting of School Committee members, parents, teachers, and staff, and charged with recommending finalists to the full School Committee. After interviewing three finalists and collecting feedback from several community and staff input sessions with each of the finalists, on March 6 the School Committee unanimously voted in support of hiring Margarita Ruiz as the next Salem Public Schools Superintendent.