The Darien Times

Darien's top paid employees: School staff rakes it in

Written by David DesRoches
Friday, February 17, 2012 11:00 AM

The top public earners in Darien remains Schools Superintendent Dr. Stephen Falcone at $229,500, a 2% increase over his salary last year. His salary is slated to stay flat for next year.

The top Town Hall salary goes to Administrator Karl Kilduff, who sits at No. 14 on the list, up three slots from his position last year, with a $151,510 annual salary, which is the 11th highest overall.

Absent from the top 25, 50 and even top 200 highest paid employees is First Selectman Jayme Stevenson, who makes less than 284 Darien employees with her $80,000 stipend.

High school Principal Dan Haron is the second highest paid employee at $180,709, which is 1.5% more than his salary last year. Assistant superintendents Dr. Judith Pandolfo and Matthew Byrnes tied in third place with $178,386, a 2.2% increase over their earnings last year.

Middlesex Principal Dr. Deborah Boccanfuso has the fifth highest salary of $168,921, a 1.5% increase over her salary last year. Special Education Director Robin Pavia ranked sixth with a $163,788, 1.5% more than last year.

Two of the five elementary principals — the "fab five" as they are sometimes referred to — follow Pavia closely on the list. Rita Ferri of Hindley and John Rechi of Ox Ridge tie for seventh place with $163,471, also a 1.5% increase. Rechi is retiring this year after 26 years at Ox Ridge.

Dick Huot, schools director of finance, follows the top two of the fab five in ninth place, with an income of $161,030 over his $159,436 salary last year.

Two of the three DHS assistant principals, Ellen Dunn and Michael Sullivan, make $157,081 and tie for No. 10 on the list.

The third fab five principal, Royle Principal Keith Margolus, is at No. 12 on the list, with an income of $144,950. Margolus has worked in the district for his entire career, since he began as an intern. He taught fifth grade at and became assistant principal at Ox Ridge before taking the top spot at Royle.

Paula Bleakley took the No. 13 spot with her $154,000 salary after taking the reins as principal of Holmes this year. Bleakley was a former gymnastics coach in town and principal in Greenwich.

Following Bleakly is Town Administrator Kilduff, then new Tokeneke Principal Mary Michelson, with her $147,124 salary. Michelson was the former assistant principal at Royle.

Michelson is followed by a three-way tie for No. 16. Carleen Wood, assistant director of special education and Middlesex assistant principals Marc Marin and Andrew Byrne each make $144,398, a 1.5% increase over their previous salary. Laura Conte, assistant director of special education in elementary schools, was tied with these earners last year, but her salary only rose to $143,331, which equals a 0.75% increase and leaves her at No. 19.

The second, third and fourth highest town paid Town Hall employees are Bob Steeger, director of Public Works, Darien Police Chief Duane Lovello, and town Finance Director Kate Buch.

Steger's salary is $142,925, which puts him at No. 20, which is 2.5% more than his salary last year. Lovello's $141,686 makes him No. 21. He also got a 2.5% raise this year. Buch's $140,362 salary puts her at No. 22. She did not make the top 25 last year.

Also new to the affluent town earners are IT Director Jeffrey Adams; Early Learning Program Assistant Principal Laura Straiton; and high school assistant principal Ellen Spark.

Adams earns $138,484 annually, putting him at No. 23, and Straiton sits at No. 24 at $136,524. Spark is the last of the top 25 earners at $133,510.

Factoring in overtime, Police Lt. Donald Anderson earned more than Chief Lovello, pulling in $147,592.18. Overtime would also put several other police officers in the top 25.

Salaries account for roughly 70% of all town expenses. The schools have 763 people on their payroll, and 79 people who earn more than $100,000 annually, which represents 10.4% of all school employees. The town employs 236 people, and 37 earn more than $100,000 annually, which is 15.7% of total employees.

ddesroches@darientimes.com

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