Nazareth schools Superintendent Victor Lesky to receive $60,000 lump sum upon retirement

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

When longtime Nazareth Area School District Superintendent Victor Lesky steps away from the district he has overseen for more than a decade, he'll receive a lump sum payment of more than $60,000.

The payment comes in addition to his pension. He won't get any buyout to forgo future service, just the same benefit afforded to any retiring employee, the superintendent said in an e-mail.

Retiring employees get a cash payout of 1 percent of their final year salary multiplied by the total number of years worked for the district. The payout encourages long-term employees to retire and be replaced by lower salaried ones.

Lesky will earn $149,708 this year, so he is entitled to a cash payout upon retirement of $53,892 for his 36 years of service. He'll also get $6,750 in sick pay, or $45 for 150 sick days accrued. His total payout is $60,642.

Lesky said he has accrued 350 sick days but the district offers payouts for just the first 150. Lesky said he has gone without a raise for the past two years.
During Monday’s school board meeting, Lesky said he plans to retire on July 4. He has been superintendent since 1999.

Lesky said Thursday he turned down a contract extension.

"I was asked by a number of board members to consider a new contract, to continue to serve the district as Superintendent of Schools, but I have decided to look at other alternatives," he said.

Lesky said the retirement incentive has been offered to district employees for the past 25 years.

The district does not permit vacation days or personal days to accumulate, meaning Lesky would only be reimbursed for those days not used in the current 2011-12 school year and that limit is 10.

Lesky said he hasn't chosen his pension option yet. His pension will be funded through the state Public School Employees' Retirement System, not Nazareth Area School District funds.

The district plans to begin its search for a new leader next month. School board member Linda McDonald previously said the board hoped to name a candidate by December and internal prospects would be considered first.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf/2011/09/longtime_nazareth_schools_supe.html