Earl Metzler is the highest paid superintendent in New Hampshire, with a base salary of $165,909. Earlier this year, he got a compensatory buy out of $92,364.22 for accrued comp time. Nearly $100k in comp time as a salaried employee? He just bought a condo in Florida, too. And now, he’s back at the trough. Metzler Sues SAU55 for more comp time payouts.
In a lawsuit filed in Rockingham County Superior Court last week, Earl Metzler claims the in June 2019 the School Board changed their policy and at that point disallowed the Superintendent’s ability to earn compensatory time. When the policy changed, Metzler claims his payment of accrued comp time was paid at straight time, instead of time and one-half.
Based on consultation with the Department of Labor, as of July 24, 2019,
Metzler v SAU 55 Filing
the SAU Board was on notice that “the comp time payment [to Dr. Metzler] may need
to be amended to reflect time and a half versus the straight time in which it was paid.”
SAU No. 55 Board Meeting Minutes, July 24, 2019.
So the highest paid Superintendent in all the land isn’t satisfied. SAU55, the most incompetent school board in all of NH, continues to acquiesce to his demands. Metzler’s contract is good until 2022, though there’s no telling how often he’ll be in New Hampshire compared to his new condo in FL.
Related: Hampstead School Board Bans Firearms (Against State Law)
As with most SAU’s and Government Subdivisions across NH, they are woefully behind on uploading minutes to the website. **Hint to my legislator friends. It’s 2019 (almost 2020!) and tacking a piece of paper up in Town Hall doesn’t quite cut it anymore.**
Assuming the approximately 92k payout earlier this year was at straight time, Metzler is seeking another 46,000 in comp time buy outs. That would put him over $300,000 for the year for a Superintendent of a District with roughly 5,000 kids. Is SAU 55 that good? Do the residents, taxpayers, employers of Earl Metzler in Hampstead, Plaistow, Danville, Sandown, and Atkinson believe he is THAT good? Seriously?
Complaints against Metzler make a long list. See here.
Timberlane Wants Out
SAU55 is comprised of Hampstead and Timberlane School Districts. Timberlane wants out, which, plainly, makes sense.
Why should two districts, with different schools, different school boards, be ruled by one overarching board and one superintendent? Timberlane goes to Timberlane (duh,) and Hampstead goes to Pinkerton Academy in Derry. Combining districts in this fashion only limits the taxpayer’s voice in each individual district. If Hampstead needs something, all 4 towns in Timberlane get to vote on it. If Timberlane needs something it’s nearly automatic that Hampstead will have to help foot the bill.
It’s like a two-headed snake.
Timberlane submitted a plan to withdraw from SAU55 to the State Board of Education. In March, voters of Timberlane Towns will vote on the plan at Town Meeting.
Metzler-Complaint-11-15-19-and-Summons-11-22-19-2