Penns Valley board of directors approves contract extension, pay increase for superintendent
The Penns Valley Area School District board of directors voted Thursday to keep its longtime head administrator through the 2027 school year.
Brian Griffith will continue in his position as superintendent of the Penns Valley Area School District through June 2027. His contract, as approved unanimously during Wednesday’s board meeting, grants him a 3.5% pay increase. The contract did not include a base salary, but in the 2019-20 school year his salary was $175,714, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
He will be eligible for a 3.5% pay increase every July 1 beginning in 2023 for the remainder of the contract. He will also receive an annual performance bonus of up to $5,000.
“I want to say how much I’ve appreciated working and living in this community, how supportive this community is of its students and of education, and I hope that I can stay and do continued good work for the next five years,” Griffith told the board prior to its vote.
He has served as superintendent since January 2008 and oversees 1,400 students and nearly 200 employees in four buildings.
Some community members questioned the timing of the renewal, since his contract doesn’t expire until June 2022. District solicitor Scott Etter said they are within the renewal time frame.
“It is the custom and practice of school districts and school entities ... that they renew superintendent contracts or executive director contracts in the instance of an IU or vocational technical school, in the final year of the existing contract,” Etter said.
Etter said he and the board received several emails from people who were not in favor of Griffith’s contract renewal, as well as some who were in favor. Questions were raised about the contract during public comment, but few spoke against it.
Celesta Powell, of Spring Mills, told the board she and her family were listening to the board meeting together, and supported Griffith.
“We all just appreciate his time and his attention that (Griffith has) given through the years,” Powell said.
