Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 11, 1993 TAG: 9308110179
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The "memorandum of agreement" outlines the terms under which Tota will be allowed to collect a controversial $35,000 annual consulting fee promised in his early retirement package. Tota retired from the city school system June 30.
Tota, now superintendent of the three-school district of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., recently notified the city attorney's office of his acceptance of the contract, board member Nelson Harris said.
The seven-year contract calls for Tota initially to assist with the city's magnet school programs, perhaps helping to secure more grant money. Magnet programs offer specialty classes, such as flying lessons or ballet, to lure white students to predominantly black schools as part of a federal integration initiative. Tota helped win roughly $17 million in magnet grants during his 12 years as superintendent.
To collect his fee - 35 percent of the $100,000 salary he was earning when he left - Tota must work for the city 20 days each year for seven years. Eight of those days may be spent outside Roanoke but not in his office in Dobbs Ferry.
During the latter part of the seven years, the contract states, the board may find other suitable work for Tota contingent upon his agreement.
Four board members were present at Tuesday's meeting to approve the contract. Board members Marilyn Curtis and Wendy O'Neil did not attend. Board member Jay Turner arrived after the vote but said he was "happy" with the agreement.
Tota's early retirement deal, negotiated in 1989, came into question in March when he accepted the Dobbs Ferry position and Turner said he would be free to leave town without working for the consulting fee. Turner, who was board chairman in 1989, said the money had been intended as a benefit and that the former board never expected Tota to work.
Other board members grew angry, however, at the idea of paying Tota for nothing.
Another controversial school employee will return to his position this fall, without further board discussion. Although several board members believed they would have to vote to return Hurt Park Elementary School principal William Shepherd to his position this fall, no further board action is necessary, Superintendent E. Wayne Harris said.
Harris recently disciplined Shepherd for failing to immediately report a case of suspected child abuse at his school. The board renewed Shepherd's contract earlier this year but left him without an assignment.
Harris said no board vote was necessary to ratify his recommendation that Shepherd return to Hurt Park.
"It's an administrative matter," he said.
Misdemeanor charges against Shepherd in the case recently were dismissed.
by CNB