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Mostly Cloudy Pay raises for Malverne superintendent, staff
Community members raise concerns; school officials defend decision
Following the Malverne Board of Education’s approval last month of a 2 percent salary increase and a two-year contract extension for Schools Superintendent James Hunderfund — as well as pay raises for several other administrators — district residents have created an online petition demanding that the board rescind the increases.
The Board of Education approved a resolution at its July 10 meeting granting raises to Hunderfund and several central office administrators, including Deputy Superintendent Richard Banyon, Assistant Superintendent for District Operations Spiro Colaitis and Business Administrator Thomas McDaid. The board voted 4-1, with Trustee Gina Genti voting against the resolution.
Hunderfund, who earns $235,235 annually, according to the 2012-13 New York State Education Department’s School Administrator Salary Disclosure, will receive the 2 percent annual raise as a lump sum payment, in addition to his retirement annuity. His contract was extended until June 30, 2015.
Hunderfund previously served as superintendent for the Commack School District for 12 years, and retired in 2006 with a $316,497 pension.
The resolution granted 3 percent annual raises to Colaitis and Banyon, who earn $149,684 and $194,760, respectively. McDaid was given a 4 percent raise, and four central office employees received 2 percent raises. Banyon’s increase will also be a lump sum payment, in addition to his retirement annuity.
Hunderfund came to the Malverne School District in July 2007 as an interim superintendent. His position became permanent in February 2008, and he received a three-year contract covering the 2007-08 through 2009-10 school years. He was later granted an extension through 2013.
“We were the only employees last year who did not get a raise,” said Hunderfund, who did not comment on the amount of his salary increase. He noted, however, that the raises for administrators are contractual.
“It’s part of my contract,” he said. “Everyone in this central office . . . are non-union. We all have individual contracts.”
