Southampton School Administrator Receives Raise Despite Being Effectively Replaced

Two months after being escorted out of the Southampton School District’s administrative building, Denise Merchant is still getting paychecks as the director of pupil personnel services—and, in fact, she even got a raise earlier this month.Officially, Ms. Merchant is still the director, although an interim director of pupil personnel services was appointed in June, essentially replacing her. The School Board has not publicly addressed the matter, but sources have said an investigation is under way that focuses on Ms. Merchant and her department. While that takes place, she is collecting a paycheck but has not reported for work since her replacement was appointed on May 24.The interim position is being held by Dr. Harmon Cohen, formerly a special education administrator in the Southampton School District, who retired several years ago.The State Education Department lists all administrative compensation information, and the list shows that Southampton’s director of pupil personnel services is slated to receive a salary of $157,518 for the 2016-17 school year. That is a scheduled 2-percent raise above the 2015-16 school year rate of $154,429 that Ms. Merchant was paid.When asked via email to confirm that Ms. Merchant is still getting paid and received the 2-percent raise, Interim Superintendent Dr. Nicholas Dyno said, “That is correct.”“Salaries for any administrators are pursuant to any salary agreements,” said Dr. Dyno in another email. “As you know, beyond that, I can’t discuss personnel matters.”He, and other school district officials, have continued to remain mum on the circumstances surrounding any investigation, or Ms. Merchant’s official status with the district. “Unfortunately, there is nothing new at this time to add/say about the investigative process concerning Ms. Merchant,” Southampton Board of Education President Roberta Hunter said in an email this week.The school district’s Nesconset-based attorney, Tom Volz, did not return multiple calls seeking comment.Ms. Merchant has held the position since August 30, 2010, and received tenure in 2013.According to the district’s website, the office of pupil personnel service offers “a range of services, from part-time to full-time special education.”At the same time it appointed Dr. Cohen to take over leadership of the special education program, the School Board voted to hire Garden City-based firm Jaspan Schlesinger LLP to “provide attorney services to the district as presented,” according to a prepared statement that Dr. Dyno read aloud. The same agency investigated former Superintendent Dr. Scott Farina earlier this year—leading to his resignation in April—and sources have confirmed that Ms. Merchant is the focus of the investigation this time around.According to New York State Education Law, tenured educators have the right to retain their positions and can be terminated only if there is “just cause.” The educator in almost all circumstances is entitled to receive full pay and benefits throughout the duration of the disciplinary process.At a School Board meeting on Tuesday, an audience member asked the board, during the public comment portion, about generally not being able to discuss personnel matters.“We are restricted through the law, really, in regards to personnel matters and just how detailed we can ever speak to the public in regards to personnel matters,” Ms. Hunter responded. “We have gotten legal advice on this, and we are in the correct parameters in terms of protecting details that involve individual personnel of our school district. And that’s really the extent that the board has been able to comment.”