Boston School Chief Cleans Up on Sick Days

The Boston Herald reports:

As Boston was bailing out the budget-strapped schools, the city cut a whopping $148,000 one-time payout to the retired superintendent for a record stack of unused vacation and sick time, a Herald payroll review reveals.

The pricey perk - possibly the largest of its kind in Hub history - has shocked one city councilor who’s calling for bonus belt-tightening.

“We should hold a hearing to keep it from repeating,” said at-large City Councilor Stephen J. Murphy.

Even Michael Contompasis, the newly retired school boss, said last night the system under which he got his payout deserves to be “re-examined” along with health care and pensions, but not his package. He said he earned his lucrative exit after four decades of service.

Contompasis left office last year pulling in a total of $417,967, according to a Herald review of the entire city payroll for 2007. That hefty take-home pay was for his $270,000 salary and $147,967 sick-and-vacation time buyback.

“I probably did set a record,” said Contompasis, “but I worked 42 years and I could have taken 18 sick days a year off, but I chose to work.”

Under Boston school contract rules, Contompasis, 68, was able to buy back all those discarded sick and personal days - and some unused vacation time, he said - at 40 percent of their value.

Contompasis also qualifies for a $139,782 annual pension. He also continues to work for the city - at $65,000 a year - as an aide to Mayor Thomas M. Menino. He serves as Menino’s director of intergovernmental affairs.

Government workers sure are special.