In Reversal, Pennsbury Approves New Superintendent Contract

YARDLEY, PA — In the back-and-forth over the future of Pennsbury School District Superintendent William Gretzula, it appears that he is back.

Pennsbury's school board voted 5-3 on Thursday to approve a new, 4.5-year contract for Gretzula. That comes less than two weeks after it appeared certain that he and the board were parting ways.

The board voted earlier this month to launch a search for a new superintendent after saying Gretzula told them he no longer wanted to be considered. And even that apparent parting of ways came after a point in December when Gretzula had said he was not interested in remaining in the post.

At that time, citizens packed a meeting urging the board to keep Gretzula and the board said it would re-open talks.

Gretzula's current contract expires in June. The new one starts on Jan. 1 and runs through 2023. Under it, Gretzula will get a $16,000 a year raise, from $176,000 to $192,000.

"I want to express my appreciation and gratitude to the board, even the dissenters," Gretzula said after the vote, according to The Intelligencer. "I value your opinions, and all the support I’ve heard from residents these last few months has meant a lot. It’s great to lead a school system that has such great traditions."

School board President T.R. Kannan voted with members Gary Sanderson, Christine Toy-Dragoni Debra Wachspress and Joshua Waldorf to approve the new contract. Members John Palmer, Jacqueline Redner and Christian Schwartz voted against it.

Photo courtesy Pennsbury School District