At a time when schools everywhere complain bitterly of a lack of funds, the Timberlane Regional School District is paying two people to do the same job.
Dennis "Bucky" Tardif supposedly retired as Timberlane athletic director June 30. But he is still being paid as a consultant to his replacement, Angelo Fantasia. Tardif is earning $30 an hour for up to 20 hours a week supposedly to bring Fantasia up to speed on his difficult job. But Tardif's post-retirement employment is more likely entrenched school officials taking care of one of their own at taxpayers' expense.
No one in Timberlane leadership — not School Board Chairman William Baldwin, not Superintendent Richard La Salle — seems to know when the decision was made to hire Tardif, a 23-year school district veteran, as a consultant. There's no record of the decision in the minutes of any meeting. There's no contract, no specifics on how long he'll work — although Baldwin says the board decided he'll be needed for a year.
No records. No contract. And yet, the paychecks continue. Up to $600 a week for a year — a $30,000 kiss good-bye.
Nonsense like this quite rightly causes taxpayers to lose trust in school leaders and doubt their tales of financial hardship.
It's hard to believe Fantasia needs a year of help from Tardif. Fantasia was formerly the athletic director in Nashua, a larger district. If he was not unqualified to do the job from the outset, why was he hired?
Timberlane officials need to justify to the public their decision to employ Tardif. Without a better explanation than the one they're currently providing, Tardif should be sent back into retirement.
