Sylvania board extends pact with school chief 5 years

The Sylvania Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday night to extend Superintendent of Schools Brad Rieger's employment contract by five years, to 2016, and to provide no salary increase for the upcoming school year.

Superintendent Brad Rieger's contract was set to expire July 31, 2011.

Mr. Rieger, hired in 2003, will be paid $135,600 this year.

Board member Vicki Donovan-Lyle said the district is "very fortunate" to have Mr. Rieger, and she believes he has continued to tackle aggressively what he described as his "Notre Dame job" upon his hiring seven years ago. Board president James Nusbaum said he frequently receives inquiries about Mr. Rieger's potential availability to work elsewhere, which he fends off "like a jealous boyfriend."

From academics to athletics, "every facet of the school experience seems to be really worthwhile" in Sylvania, and while parents, faculty, staff, and other administrators all deserve part of the credit, "you certainly set the tone," Mr. Nusbaum told the superintendent.

Mr. Rieger's contract with the district was to have expired July 31, 2011.