Committee approves compensation recommendations and adds assistant superintendent position to FY25 budget

The Springfield School Committee approved the superintendent's compensation recommendations for two assistant superintendent positions and recommended adding one position to the FY25 general fund budget.

The committee voted to approve compensation for the assistant superintendent of community engagement, family empowerment and partnerships; the superintendent introduced Jose Escribano as the new appointee. The committee also approved compensation for the assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and professional development and introduced Terry Poe as the appointee; speakers noted the position was an elevation of an existing role rather than a brand‑new, standalone position.

Committee members and the superintendent told the meeting the personnel items had passed unanimously through the budget and finance subcommittee. The superintendent and administration emphasized fiscal responsibility, saying part of the salary addition would be covered within the existing fiscal year and that funds were being reallocated rather than creating an entirely new budget line.

The committee then voted to recommend that the assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and professional development position be added to the FY25 general fund budget; meeting remarks said a portion of the new hire's salary needs to be added to this fiscal year because the departing employee's last day is the following day and the new hire must start Monday, May 12.

All related votes were recorded by roll call and passed; the motions were brought under the authority cited on the agenda as MGL chapter 71, section 59.