Hill to earn $190K during first year as WB superintendent

The West Bloomfield Schools Board of Education at a special meeting on Friday, May 18 unanimously approved a contract with its new superintendent.

Dr. Gerald D. Hill has agreed to a four-year contract with the district, with a salary of $190,000 in his first year, which will then increase each school year after that.

Hill’s service will begin on July 1 this year, with the contract set to expire at the end of the 2015-2016 school year on June 30, 2016.

In addition, the district will contribute $11,000 annually to a tax deferred annuity of Hill’s choice and will also provide him up to $7,000 within 30 days of the start of his employment for relocation costs.

Also per terms of the contract, Hill will have 15 vacation days in his first year. That figure will then increase to 20 days during his second and third years, and 25 days in his fourth year.

Hill will also be entitled to 18 paid sick days a year, during which he can use three of those days for personal business to attend to matters that could not be reasonably accomplished outside the normal work week or work day.

The district, however, will not provide Hill with any medical, dental or optical insurance. Instead, the district will provide Hill group term life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance coverage of $380,000 and long-term disability insurance at $9,500 per month, following a 90-day waiting period.

The Board of Education also has the right to terminate Hill’s contract if he is unable to perform his duties and obligations due to illness, accident, or other causes, after a 90-day period.

The contract’s long-term disability plan will reimburse 100 percent of his salary for the first 90 days, then decreasing to 80 percent for the next 180 days, and then no installment after a total of 270 days.

Prior to last week’s board meeting, Hill had a chance to meet with members of the community during a meet-and-greet session.

Pam Zajac, public relations and marketing coordinator for the school district, said Hill has met with staff and some students, in addition to visiting all the district’s buildings and attending a West Bloomfield High School choir concert.

Hill will take over for the current superintendent, Dr. JoAnn Andrees, who is retiring at the end of this current school year.