Search for Interim Superintendent on Hold Until Ouellette Finalizes Waterbury Deal, Says BOE Chair

Board of Education Chairman Chris Pattacini told Patch Wednesday that plans to select an interim superintendent to replace Kathleen Ouellette were on hold until she finalizes her contract with the Waterbury school system.

by the city’s Board of Education during an Aug. 8 meeting, but the Waterbury Republican and Hartford Courant are reporting that Ouellette remains at an impasse with Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura.

“She’s still the superintendent,” Pattacini told Patch Wednesday, adding that Ouellette has not given her notice to the Manchester school board. “I would imagine that would come once she finalizes the contract.”

Ouellette could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but the Hartford Courant reported that she rejected Jarjura’s initial contract offer and submitted a counter proposal. The Waterbury school board voted to raise the salary range of the position earlier this year to $150,000 to $200,000, but would still need to approve any contract Jarjura negotiates with Ouellette; Ouellette currently earns a $155,366 annual salary as Manchester’s superintendent.

Jarjura did not return a call seeking comment Wednesday.

Pattacini said the Manchester school board would “wait until everything plays out” with Ouellette before beginning the process of searching for an interim superintendent or forming a committee to eventually select her permanent replacement.

“In the meantime, she’s still the superintendent and she’s running the school system and we’re operating under that premise,” he said.