Salem Superintendent Steve Zrike Given 5-Year Contract Extension

SALEM, MA — At a time when Salem School Committee Vice-Chair Manny Cruz noted that district superintendents spend an average of just 2.8 years in their position, Salem Superintendent Steve Zrike requested to provide a much longer commitment to his adopted city during recent contract negotiations.

On Monday night, the School Committee unanimously voted to offer Zrike — the former Holyoke superintendent who came to Salem Schools on the eve of the COVID-19 shutdowns in 2020 — a five-year contract extension that will allow him to fulfill at least the 7-10 year stay in the district he said he sought when hired.

"This particular contract speaks to our desire to have stability at the helm," Cruz said. "As we think about the stock of this contract — what it means as I think about the superintendent's evaluation goals, as I think about the strategic planning that's occurred, his leadership during the pandemic — I see a superintendent who has high expectations for our students, who believes that we can become an anti-racist system, who is centered and focused on equity and building systems on robust communication, engagement and talent development.

"I've seen his leadership not only in our district, but across the Commonwealth as he is often tapped to lead projects not just in Salem but also in the Department of Elementary and Second Education. He engages in advocacy. We know we're going to have a partner who is prepared to serve our children and families, who is going to focus on diversifying the educator pipeline and someone who is deeply committed to Salem."

Under the terms publicly stated of the contract, Zrike's base salary will rise from $218,000 to $228,000 during the extended years of the deal, plus minor additions to potential bereavement leave and vacation carryover.

School Committee members Kristin Pangallo, Mary Manning, Jim Fleming and Mayor and School Committee Chair Kim Driscoll all spoke in favor of the extension prior to the vote.

"I believe in what he's trying to do and I believe in him trying to do it so I am very, very happy with this contract tonight," Manning said.

Zrike said he is looking forward to seeing the results of some of the long-term strategic plans he's initiated amid two years of pandemic-disrupted learning.

"I appreciate the support and I do want to honor the commitment that I made (in 2020)," Zrike said. "I said seven to 10 years so I am happy to have the opportunity to do the work. It takes a while to really see the fruits of everybody's labor. Turnover in districts of any kind — whether it be teachers, or superintendents, or whoever it may be — is not good for kids.

"So I look forward to the fun ahead."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)