District administrator Robert Way has already met one of three provisions tied to his one-year contract for the 2021-22 school year with the Lakeland Union High School District board of education.
The school board initially had issued Way a notice of non-renewal, but later offered a one-year contract in lieu of the customary two-year contract. Way, school board president Shari Nimsgern and board clerk Barb Peck signed the contract March 2.
The new contract becomes effective July 1 of this year. In Wisconsin, top school administrator contracts roll over for another two years, unless school boards make specific changes, which the administrator can either accept or reject.
Way serves both as administrator and curriculum director on a respective 40/60 split in duties.
He will be paid an annual salary of $138,768, the same as he received in each year of his initial two-year contract. In addition to four weeks of vacation per year, he will receive $300 monthly for use of his personal car, as well as group health insurance coverage at 90 percent of premium and other benefits.
Performance expectations listed
The board is requiring three performance expectations of the district administrator. The contract notes that he has already satisfactorily met the first one, that of delivering a “state of the school address” to the staff, which he did on Feb. 15.
He is also expected to submit three versions of the budget: one that includes the administration team’s “wants and needs regardless of their effect on a possible deficit.” The second version is to outline steps to balance the budget and the third is to show a surplus that “contributes back to fund balance.” The latter is used for capital expenses, but is there primarily to avoid short-term borrowing until real estate tax payments and state and federal aid are received.
The third expectation is to “develop the LUHS continuous improvement plan road map by April 1 and monthly monitor the plan.”
Formal review of the performance expectations in closed session will take place in August and September of this year or as otherwise needed. The contract language says the board will notify Way in writing if he does not meet those expectations and that he agrees such notification will result “in an automatic resignation by Mr. Way effective June 30, 2022.
