HAVERHILL — Deborah DePaolo is still receiving her $120,869 annual Whittier Regional High principal's salary thanks to a private settlement between her and Whittier Superintendent William DeRosa.
After several city officials complained that DePaolo should not be getting paid while not showing up for work, DeRosa yesterday released a copy of the previously secret settlement to The Eagle-Tribune. The newspaper had requested copies of agreements between DePaolo and Whittier.
DePaolo's departure as principal in December was a mutual decision, according to the separation agreement. Asked yesterday if he fired her, DeRosa said, "I can't answer that because it is a personnel matter." He also said there was no personality conflict between them.
DePaolo has continued to receive her salary, even though she hasn't worked since at least December, thanks to the agreement. Her resignation was dated Dec. 26, 2009, and was to take effect June 30.
Mayor James Fiorentini said yesterday he thought DeRosa "did the right thing" by releasing the separation agreement.
"I think they made a mistake," he said, by not releasing the agreement earlier. Fiorentini had expressed outrage that the principal was being paid for not working. The majority of Whittier's students are from Haverhill. Of the 11 communities that make up the Whittier school district, Haverhill pays the largest share.
Fiorentini also said he told DeRosa that he should apologize for not being more forthcoming about the principal's departure.
The agreement, signed by DePaolo on Dec. 19, 2009, and by DeRosa two days later, states, "DePaolo and the school district desire to sever their relationship amicably without legal dispute."
DeRosa said in a Dec. 23, 2009, message to Whittier staffers that DePaolo had gone on leave to pursue a master's degree. The superintendent said yesterday she already had a master's degree before she was hired as principal.
The separation agreement stated inquiries from the news media about DePaolo's departure would be answered with: "Ms. DePaolo is on a professional leave of absence and she is pursuing graduate study to complete a master's degree."
The school district agreed not to release the agreement to the public unless ordered to do so by the state supervisor of public records. Whittier also agreed not to release the agreement if DePaolo challenged a ruling by the supervisor of public records in court.
"The reason for her not being here is the separation agreement," DeRosa said yesterday.
He said he understood DePaolo was pursuing a master's degree, but added he understands she already has one such degree.
Her lawyer "represented to our legal counsel that she was pursuing a master's degree. That's the way it was represented to us," DeRosa said.
DePaolo's employment contract, which the Eagle-Tribune obtained after requesting it under the state Public Records Act, expired June 30, 2009. According to DeRosa, state law provides that if a school administrator's contract expires and a new pact has not been made by May 1, the previous agreement is extended by a "one-year rollover."
DeRosa said he realizes many public officials and taxpayers are outraged by the idea of a principal receiving pay even though she's not showing up for work.
"I understand that," he said. "As superintendent I had to make a very difficult decision. I own the decision. I apologize for any confusion."
DeRosa, who initially said DePaolo's pay-without-work status was required by her contract, said, "I followed what was in the confidentiality agreement." DePaolo's employment contract, which covered from Sept. 13, 2006, through June 30, 2009, did not provide for paid professional leave.
When asked how the school district could justify paying a principal for not working, DeRosa said "breaking the contract" would have cost more than paying her six months of salary. By "contract," he was referring to the separation agreement, not her employment contract, he said.
DeRosa said yesterday that Whittier's lawyer, Stephen Finnegan, told DePaolo's attorney the separation agreement was being made public. As of yesterday, he said, there was no response from DePaolo.
Finnegan told The Eagle-Tribune he could not identify DePaolo's lawyer.
While DePaolo's departure from Whittier was a mutual decision, DeRosa gave her a positive recommendation, as the agreement called for.
The recommendation in part reads, "Shortly after her arrival to Whittier Tech the position of principal became available. To me there was no better choice than Ms. DePaolo."
He concluded the recommendation with, "I would recommend Ms. Deborah DePaolo as an administrator."
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