It's budget time as the May referendum approaches, and that means it's time to look at where Ridgefield taxpayers' money is going.
And with much talk about renovated libraries, purchased land and programs either cut or added to the school schedule, public salaries don't always make the headlines.
So how much do our town employees make? What positions are most highly paid? And in what departments?
It turns out, according to the table below put together from information gathered from the town human resources department and the school personnel department, that school employees in Ridgefield occupied 24 of the top 25 highest paid positions in Ridgefield in 2011. Only the chief of police at number 25 made the list.
Paul Hendrickson, Business Manager for Ridgefield schools (a position on the list), is likely to chime in today as a spokesperson for the district. See the comment section below for his perspective.
Patch will follow this story with comparisons to nearby and similar towns, as well as reactions from town and school officials.
2011 Salary Position Name $197,676 School Superintendent Deborah Low $172,903 Assnt. School Superintendent Pat Michael $167,444 High School Principal Jeffrey Jaslow $159,341 School Personnel Director Karen Dewing $158,324 ERMS Principal Marty Fiedler $158,324 Special Education Director Karen Berasi $153,057 SRMS Principal Tim Salem $151,647 Farmingville Elem. Principal Susan Gately $149,977 HS Assistant Principal Robert Slavinsky $151,647 Branchville Elem. Principal Jason McKinnon $151,647 Barlow Mt. Elem. Principal Rebecca Pembrook $151,647 Scotland Elem. Principal Mark Solomon $149,977 HS Assnt. Principal Sarah Isaac $149,977 HS Assnt. Principal Stephanie Parker $149,977 HS Assnt. Principal Diane de Cristo $149,977 School Athletics Director Carl Charles $136,919 School Business Director Paul Hendrickson $140,508 Special Education Supervisor Kathy Murphy $140,508 Technology Manager Josh Smith $135,508 ERMS Assnt. Principal Adam Rosen $135,508 SRMS Assnt. Principal Michael Sheehan $135,508 ERMS Assnt. Principal Jeff Swiatowicz $146,326 Ridgebury Elem. Principal Jamie Palladino $138,327 Veterans Park Elem. Principal Lisa Singer $127,290 Chief of Police John Roche