BERNE — Timothy Mundell is celebrating his one year anniversary as superintendent of the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School District and feeling good about the future.

He is working with  a board of education that seems to be solidly behind him. He says he will soon close on a home in Knox.  And his daughter will attend the BKW high school this fall.

In June, the school board, under the leadership of then-President Joan Adriance, awarded Mundell a $5,000 performance bonus. His salary is $125,000 per year. The original June 2015 contract when Mundell was hired stipulated he would be given $5,000 if he met certain goals. Matthew Tedeschi, who was elected board president in July, said that the 2015 board never specified those goals so the board serving in June awarded the bonus “in good faith.”

The board also lengthened the duration of his contract.  Mundell now knows that he is assured another four years at least to bring about the improvements he hopes to make.  His contract is now effective until June 30, 2020, two years later than the original end date.

Tedeschi says the bonus was awarded and the extension made because “Dr. Mundell has done a very good job over the last year on beginning to transform the district and is very committed to it.”

Residency required

One unusual stipulation of his contract required Mundell to agree “that he and his family members will become residents of the district on on or before June 30, 2016, and shall continue to reside within the district during the term of this agreement and any extension thereof.”

Mundell says he rented a home “just over the Berne line” but will be closing soon he hopes on a home in Knox.

The residency requirement may reflect the board’s desire to see a superintendent commit for the long haul. BKW has had a succession of short-term superintendents in recent years.

Prior to taking the BKW position, Mundell worked for two years as what he describes as a human capital and organizational development consultant; and before that as a principal of a middle school in Tuckahoe and as principal at several Long Island middle and secondary schools.

He is a native of Ballston Spa.

Mundell says, “I am grateful to the board for their support and look forward to working with them toward goals we share.” 

Corrected on Aug. 26, 2016: The first version of this story incorrectly attributed Timothy Mundell’s bonus to the current Berne-Knox-Westerlo School Board rather than the one serving in June.