O'Connor Given Strong Review, Two-Year Contract Extension

Under the terms of the contract of , the would have had to give him one-year advanced warning if they did not intend to extend his contact.

The school committee went one step further this week, extending O'Connor's deal two years, through June 30 2015.

In a statement read at the June 13 School Committee meeting , Chairwoman said the two-year extension reflected the confidence the committee had that O'Connor was the right person to be leading the school department.

"We believe the essence of our schools is the achievements of our students.   Another priority of paramount importance is our budget and our ability to make fiscally sound decisions for our schools," she said. "We are confident that you will continue to meet the challenges ahead of you."

The announcement of O'Connor's contract extension, came after Polimeno shared the highlights of a glowing review given O'Connor by the committee.

O'Connor was graded in 30 criteria by each of the five committee members for a total of 150 separate grades. The criteria were under the categories of Policy and Governance, Planning and Assessment, Instructional Leadership, Communications and Community Relations,  Organizational Management and Professionalism.

"Dr. O'Connor, I am pleased to report there were no areas where you were graded below expectations," said Polimeno. "There were 114 different criteria where you met expectations and 36 different criteria where you exceeded expectations.

"Your evaluation is reflective of the School Committee's perspective that our district is moving in the right direction," she said. "Your continued focus regarding student achievement, staffing, budget, our new high school, policies and procedures and much more has already made a significant and positive difference for our schools. We support your strategies and activities in the area of student achievement, professional development and budgetary considerations. Your leadership skills have been exemplary as you have developed, implemented and evaluated the district's operational plans."

O'Connor, who was hired in 2010 to a three-year contract, deflected credit for progress made in the district to his staff.

"I'm humbled and I truly appreciate the comments here," said O'Connor. "I consider myself to be an average superintendent who is surrounded by some extraordinary people. That vote of confidence is a vote of confidence in my staff."

In addition to the two-year contract extension, O'Connor will receive a two percent pay increase for the 2012-2013 school year. Polimeno said potential pay increases for the remainder of the contract would be discussed at a later time.