Brentwood district cuts 8 school jobs, creates 2

The Brentwood Board of Education abolished eight full-time administrative positions and created two new ones during a special meeting last week that sparked anger among a crowd of more than 100 people attending.

The seven-member board voted 5-2 Thursday to do away with the position of director of school safety, four jobs in the buildings and grounds department and three jobs in the food services department.

Tim Rogers, 60, who earned $99,983 as a school cook manager, is among those who is out of a job.

After the district informed him of its plans to eliminate his position, Rogers said officials offered him a custodial position that pays about one-third of what he currently earns. He has worked in the district for eight years.

"It was an offer they knew I would reject," Rogers said. "It's mean and it's spiteful. It's an insult."

Rick Belyea, a spokesman for the school board, said elimination of the five jobs in the buildings and grounds department will save the district money. The three jobs in the food services department were "duplication of title," which he said is not permitted under civil service laws, an assertion the union does not challenge.

The board's move came less than a month after it voted to hire Joseph C. Bond as the district's new superintendent, replacing Donna Jones.

Brentwood, Long Island's largest school district, has about 16,000 students and an annual budget of about $304 million.

Trustee Gail Kirkham, who voted against abolishing the jobs, said the cuts weren't necessary.

"I really don't see why these positions are being abolished," Kirkham said.

Eileen Welch, president of the Brentwood Principals and Superiors Association, said the union will not challenge the board's decision to abolish the jobs.

"We're extremely disappointed and disheartened," Welch said.

The board created two jobs in the food services department, replacing three that were eliminated. The board hired Nancy Ann Petrone as school lunch manager at $133,012 a year. Patricia Hilton, who was earning $99,983 as a school cook manager, has accepted the newly created job of assistant to school lunch manager, at $51,772 a year.

Deborah Credidio's position as a school cook manager also was eliminated. Credidio, 57, who earned $125,423 a year, said she is being forced into early retirement, which means she will be eligible to receive only two-thirds of her pension.

"I have no choice," said Credidio, who has worked in the district for 25 years. "I have to have some kind of income."