Clarkstown Welcomes New Superintendent (VIDEO)

By a six to zero vote on Monday night, the Clarkstown Board of Education approved a four-year contract with the district’s new superintendent Although only six members of the board were present for the vote, Board President Doug Katz said the vote should be considered unanimous since seventh member Donna Ehrenberg, who arrived at the special meeting later, was also in favor of hiring Dr. Morton. When the vote was announced, Dr. Morton received a standing ovation from the community members attending the meeting at Clarkstown South High School.

Dr. Morton, who starts in Clarkstown on July 2 at an annual salary of $235,000, is currently the superintendent of the Sparta Township NJ School District. He has been with that district for 10 years and has 27 years of experience as a superintendent in three New Jersey districts. He shared his feeling about joining the Clarkstown district.

“There are wonderful things going on in these schools. I’m very excited to be part of that,” he said, adding, “I enjoy what I do.”

He spoke about his move from New Jersey to New York.

“What I’m doing is coming to New York State where education is valued a lot more than it is in New Jersey right now,” said Dr. Morton. “So it’s not like I’m running away from anyplace. I’m coming to a better place.”

New Jersey has instituted a cap on superintendent’s salaries of $175,000. Although Dr. Morton would have maintained his $235,207 salary under his current contract in Sparta, once it ended in 2015, he would have to take a pay cut.  

After the meeting, he talked about the opportunity, which made his decision to leave New Jersey easy.

“The reputation of Clarkstown is (known) far and wide,” he said. “It’s very rare in a professional career for a place like Clarkstown to become available.”

Dr. Morton told the audience about the various people he met during the interview process.

“The cross section of community I have met so far has been most impressive,” he said.

He discussed his meeting with high school students and said they asked him to do two things if he became the district superintendent. One was to work with the board on talking about the students’ and teachers’ activities and not arguing about them. The second request was to truly communicate and connect with the students. Dr. Morton said those are his first two goals. 

He also thanked current Superintendent Dr. Margaret Keller-Cogan, who has accepted a position as head of school with an independent school in Buffalo.

“I have met Meg,” he said. “She has been wonderful to me. She reached out to me. And I do appreciate that very, very much.”

Board members voiced support for him.

“I have hopes that everything will go forward in a nice orderly fashion,” said Board Member Diane Hoeneveld. “But I’m happy with our choice. I think we have a very good choice in Dr. Morton.” 

Katz expressed similar feelings.

“I’m very excited for Dr. Morton to start in Clarkstown,” he said. “I’m sorry that I won’t get to work with him.”

When asked about the New York State property tax cap that limits school district budget increases, Dr. Morton said it is a matter of learning how to make ends meet and how to provide for students.   

 The resolution passed by the board of education included terms of his contract.

 1. 4-year term; and

 2. Salary $235,000 per annum, the same as with the current Superintendent’s contract; and

 3. No health care coverage (other than dental), nor car allowance, representing an estimated savings of about $27,000 per annum; and

 4. As with the present Superintendent’s contract, a self-directed discretionary fund of $6,000/annum, and a 403b Tax Sheltered Annuity (“TSA”) on sliding scale with 50% of IRC limit available in the first year ($11,250), 75% in the second year and 100% ($22,500) in the third year and thereafter; and

 5. 35 days vacation per annum, non-accrued; and

 6. 40 days paid sick leave in the first year, and 20 additional days in each succeeding year.

The Sparta Township Public School District has about 4,100 students and four schools.