School Committee Restores Teacher's Originally Offered Pay

The North Kingstown School Committee voted to restore the North Kingstown High School English teacher originally offered salary last night, reversing its August decision to drop Ibelle’s pay.

In a 4-3 vote, the committee boosted Ibelle's from step 1 to step 3 and granted retroactive pay. Larry Ceresi, Dick Welch and Lynda Avanzato opposed the measure, with Ceresi recommending Ibelle go through the “proper procedure” of filing an official grievance. Ceresi, in his first meeting back following back surgery, added he felt this would set a "dangerous precedent."

In August, the committee decided to reduce Ibelle’s pay despite Superintendent Phil Thornton’s initial suggestion to pay Ibelle at the higher rate, due to his experience. Because Ibelle did not have in-state teaching experience, the School Committee bumped him to a lower salary along with several other incoming teachers.

Ibelle, a former journalist with 25 years of experience in the writing and editing, accepted an offer from Thornton with a salary at step 3 in August but was surprised to find that, on his first day of work, his pay was reduced due to the School Committee’s ruling. Thornton still supports his original choice to pay Ibelle at a higher rate.

“Given what information I had at the time, I made the call [to pay Ibelle at a step 3 rate] and I stand by it,” said Thornton.

The increase bumps Ibelle's salary from $39,775 to after $45,007. Over a 10-year period, Ibelle’s salary will cost the district about an additional $60,000.