WESTBROOK – Westbrook School Superintendent Marc Gousse’s contract has been renewed for another three years, extending his current role into 2017.
On Feb. 13, the School Committee unanimously voted to approve Gousse’s new contract, which includes a pay freeze and a cut in his vacation and sick time.
“I don’t look at it as taking a hit. The district has been very good to me. It’s a difficult time in the economy. I’m compensated very well for what I do,” said Gousse.
During the meeting, Chairman Jim Violette said Gousse’s pay would be frozen for the length of his new three-year contract, which starts in 2014. Vacation and sick time had also each been cut by two weeks, leaving three weeks vacation and two weeks of sick time. His gas stipend was also cut by $1,000.
“We really beat him up hard,” Violette said. “I think taxpayers need to know he didn’t get anything.”
Next year marks the last year of Gousse’s original contract. As scheduled in those contract negotiations, Gousse will receive a 2 percent raise, but that will be the last raise he gets for another three years. Gousse said he will make approximately $129,000 per year.
Gousse said there is also an opportunity for him to receive a performance bonus of $10,000 in 2017, but only after he fulfills certain performance standards that haven’t been laid out yet.
“I’m excited about that business model. It motivates me,” Gousse said.
Gousse has served the Westbrook School Department for the past 13 years in various roles before becoming the superintendent in 2011.
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