New school head accepts 3-year, $130,000 contract

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School Board and Sullivan in Agreement

By Patrick Cronin

Hampton Union, Tuesday, May 18, 2010

[The following article is courtesy of the Hampton Union and Seacoast Online]

HAMPTON -- Robert Sullivan has accepted a three-year contract with a salary of $130,000 per year to become the next superintendent of School Administrative Unit 21.

Jon Moore, chairman of the SAU 21 Joint Board, said the outgoing superintendent of Middleborough, Mass., agreed to the terms of the contract and is expected to sign on the dotted line by the end of the week.

The 28-member board — consisting of school boards members from all six districts that make up SAU 21— met Thursday, May 13, to finalize the terms.

Sullivan was one of three finalists selected by a search committee set up by the Joint Board to replace Superintendent James Gaylord, who is retiring at the end of this school year. While the other two finalists subsequently withdrew their candidacies, the Joint Board said Sullivan had an outstanding record as a superintendent and would be a great fit for SAU 21.

Hampton School Board member Ginny Bridle-Russell said what impressed her about Sullivan was his response to a question regarding what will happen once Hampton withdraws from SAU 21 on July 1, 2011.

"He talked a lot about the importance of working together when SAU 21 and SAU 90 become two separate entities to ensure all students who enter Winnacunnet come in at the same level."

Sullivan has 35 years of experience in education. He's been superintendent in Middleborough for six years where he gained the reputation of being an around-the-clock administrator.

Prior to that, he was assistant superintendent at that district for five years and was a teacher and supervisor at Middleborough and Quincy, Mass., schools for 13 years.

His education includes a Ph.D in education from Nova Southeastern University in Florida and a master's in education and bachelor of science degree from Bridgewater State College.

Sullivan is retiring as superintendent of Middleborough at the end of the school year. Taking the new job in New Hampshire allows him to still collect his full Massachusetts pension, estimated at $70,000 to $85,000.

He previously told the Joint Board that he intends to keep Middleborough as his home but will keep a second residence in New Hampshire.

SAU 21 consists of six school districts covering Hampton, Hampton Falls, North Hampton, Seabrook, South Hampton, and Winnacunnet High School, which serves the first four of towns.

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