Superintendent rated ‘proficient,’ denied raise

Nov 19, 2020

The School Committee reported the results of their annual evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Shaver-Hood’s performance at the Nov. 19 meeting, and gave her an overall score that put her at the low end of proficient: 80.3.

That score is calculated by averaging the scores given by each member of the committee, who rated Shaver-Hood’s performance of general responsibilities and progress towards goals and objectives.

Chair Joyce Bacchiocchi gave Shaver-Hood a score of 87.92; Michael Flaherty, 82.2; Kevin Brogioli, 86.65; Mary Morgan, 70.60; and Apryl Rossi, 75.35. 

The evaluation qualified her for a raise between zero and three percent. 

The committee voted against giving her a raise. Flaherty pointed out that Shaver-Hood’s performance was just barely in the “proficient category,” while Morgan said most administrators were forgoing any increases in pay while budgets were so tight.

Shaver-Hood said that she would be offering a rebuttal at a future meeting and responding to some of the member’s specific comments.

The evaluation contractually gave Shaver-Hood an extension, so she will be employed by the district at least until July 31, 2022.

The committee did vote to give Shaver-Hood a one-time performance bonus of $2,000, citing her strong leadership through the pandemic and time working as a de facto business manager for the district.

Several quotes from individual School Committee member’s evaluation of the Superintendent were made public. 

One spoke to the district’s quick transition to digital learning at the beginning of the pandemic: “The situation was made much less severe for the district due to the vision to focus on digital learning in the prior years. Wareham has fully embraced and implemented digital learning into the curriculum... The day to day curriculum is fully integrated and takes advantage of powerful suites of tools. This made us far more prepared than not just our surrounding districts, but among the entire state.”

Another committee member referenced ongoing concerns about the workplace: “Not presented with any evidence regarding HR management or hiring practices to adequately rate proficient in that category at this time.” Last year, there were several allegations that Shaver-Hood created a hostile work environment that led to relatively high turnover within the district.

Another expressed concern about the low number of special education students participating in advanced classes at the high school, and said that younger students would perhaps get more out of small classes than high school students.

Last year, Shaver-Hood was rated in the “needs improvement” category, which barred her from receiving a raise to her $166,416 salary. She later gave a rebuttal, saying the evaluation was a “mean-spirited, personal attack.”

In 2018,  the superintendent received 82.4 out of 100. In 2017, she got 83, and in 2016, she received 85.

In 2017, Shaver-Hood attempted to leave the district, and was a finalist for superintendent jobs in Franklin and Stoneham. Both jobs went to other candidates.

In August 2020, Shaver-Hood filed a complaint against the Wareham School Committee through the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

The Commission works to adjudicate discrimination complaints filed by people in Massachusetts. The commission accepts complaints from those who believe they were treated “differently or unfairly based on their identity as a member of a protected class.” Protected classes include race, disability, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or veteran’s status.

The commission does not make any information about active claims available to the public. 

At the time, neither Shaver-Hood nor Joyce Bacchiocchi offered comment.