New Kensington-Arnold superintendent's contract extended despite proposal to shorten it

One board member’s effort to shorten a contract extension for New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck failed Tuesday night.

The board ultimately voted 8-0 to give Superintendent Chris Sefcheck a new five-year contract that will run from Tuesday through June 30, 2029. It replaces his previous and initial five-year contract that would have ended on June 30, 2026.

Board member Jane Graham was absent.

After the board accepted Sefcheck’s resignation — a necessary step before approving the new contract — board member Rob Fusia proposed shortening the new contract from five years to three years, which would have it end on June 30, 2027.

“This is not personal, this is business,” Fusia said in proposing an amendment to the board’s motion on Sefcheck’s new contract.

Fusia, a former board member, was elected to the school board in November. Before joining the board in December, he had questioned the outgoing board approving a 3.5% pay increase for Sefcheck at its final meeting in November.

In proposing his amendment on Sefcheck’s new contract, Fusia noted that school boards change every two years, and that a superintendent’s employment can be subject to the whims of the board. In light of that, he said a five-year extension “would be fiscally irresponsible against the taxpayers.”

“Should another board come on and they have a problem, as happened before with a lot of boards and the whole country, I’d hate to see our taxpayers be responsible for a couple hundred thousand dollars,” Fusia said.

District Solicitor Anthony Vigilante said Fusia’s amendment was untimely. Even if the board were to approve it, Sefcheck also would have to accept it, he said.

“It’s kind of an odd time to bring it up, after he resigns,” he said.

Fusia’s proposal nearly died until board member John Cope seconded it so the board could vote on it. He and Fusia were the only two who voted in favor of it.

It prompted board member Nicholas DiCarolis to voice his support for Sefcheck.

“Dr. Sefcheck has been doing a fantastic job here the last few years, changing the way we approach academics, the way we approach running this district, and we’re lucky to have him,” DiCarolis said.

Fusia said he agreed.

“I was just looking out for the taxpayers should something happen in the future,” he said.

When the new contract was approved by all present, board President Tim Beckes said, “Motion passes unanimously. I’m thankful for that.”

The new contract increases Sefcheck’s salary by about 3.5% in the first year, from about $143,000 to $148,000. It includes $5,000 annual increases in the second and third years, with raises in the fourth and fifth years at the school board’s discretion.

“I’m extremely excited to continue the work that everyone started and to continue the growth and prosperous times in New Kensington,” Sefcheck said.