By CHRIS CAMIRE


TYNGSBORO -- The School Committee has negotiated a three-year contract for newly selected Superintendent of Schools Darrell Lockwood. 

The contract calls for Lockwood, 54, to receive a $140,000-per-year base salary over three years. There is no sick-time buyback provision and no annuity. 

School Committee Chairman William Downing said the contract was based on the town's contracts with Town Administrator Rosemary Cashman and Police Chief William Mulligan. 

"There has been a public outcry, especially over the last two to three years, about the amount of perks that are put into some of these contracts," Downing said. "We're trying to make sure we're keeping an eye on these moving forward with the new superintendent." 

Negotiations had been ongoing, but the two sides were never too far apart, according to School Committee member Burton Buchman, who sat on the negotiating team with Downing and fellow committee member Diana Keohane. 

The position was advertised with a salary range of between $135,000 and $145,000. Buchman said Lockwood's 10 years experience as a superintendent in Goffstown, N.H., factored into his final salary figure. 

"He's got the experience," Buchman said. "We didn't want to start him off at the low end of the scale." 

Lockwood will be entitled to 25 vacation days, 10 sick days and three personal days per year. Unused vacation time up to 10 days can be carried over to the following year, which Lockwood can buy out if he leaves the district. 

The contract also gives Lockwood a $350-per-month travel allowance, which excludes commuting but can be used to pay for a cell phone and miscellaneous expenses. 

If Lockwood opts not to enroll in the town's health-insurance plan, he will be paid an additional $2,000 per year. The fee is to encourage Lockwood not to enroll in the plan, said Buchman, which could save the town between $5,000 to $10,000. 

If Lockwood does enroll in the town's health-insurance plan, he will be charged 30 percent of the cost. Lockwood also receives $2,000 per year to buy a combination of life insurance and long-term disability. 

Lockwood is expected to sign the contract next week, Downing said. 

In his current role as superintendent in Goffstown, Lockwood earns $123,600. Current Tyngsboro Superintendent David Hawkins earns $147,000. 

Lockwood begins in Tyngsboro in early July.

Reproduced by the Goffstown Residents Association.