At its Dec. 5 meeting, the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education approved a contract with newly approved School Supt. Michael Van Tassel through June 2014, with a starting prorated salary of $135,000 for the present school year.
Van Tassel, currently principal of Belleville High School, takes over the superintendent’s post on Feb. 1. As principal he is making $104,000 annual salary.
The contract approved raises his salary to $137,000 for the 2012-13 school year and to $139,000, effective July 1, 2013.
The original term of the contract ends June 30, 2014, but will be extended and salary set for an additional year by June 30, 2013 and each June 30 thereafter unless written notice is given to the contrary by the board.
The superintendent will work 260 days annually, exclusive of 12 board-paid holidays and 20 paid vacation days. He also will have 12 sick days, permitted to accumulate to a maximum of 90 days. He will get three personal business days, which also can be accumulated. Insurance is provided.
New Director of Finance
At its Dec. 5 meeting, the board also hired Karen L. Moffitt, CPA, to be the district’s new Director of Finance.
The board approved a two-year contract, effective Jan. 3, at a salary of $104,500, plus benefits. The district has been without a Director of Finance since Aug. 20, 2010, when Nick Amelagos left.
Interim Business Director Mike Dixon filled in until being replaced with Moffitt.
Shonta Langford-Green, Director of Human Resources, said Moffitt has extensive experience in public school finance and comes with excellent recommendations.
Moffitt, who lives in Fenton, currently is the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services at Redford Union School District #1, a position she has held since October 2009. Among her community activities she lists AYSO soccer coach 1998-2004.