July 11, 2024
By Rachel Scofield
Pickerington Schools Superintendent Dr. Chris Briggs will retire on January 31, 2025.
In a letter to district employees on July 5, Briggs wrote, “For the past seven years, I have had the honor and privilege of leading the Pickerington Local School District, serving the students, families and staff of our incredible community. My time in Pickerington has been the pinnacle of my 34-year career in education, so, it is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement effective January 31, 2025. This was not an easy decision, but I am fortunate to be taking advantage of the recently adjusted retirement eligibility criteria outlined by STRS.”
STRS refers to the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio.
At the school board meeting on July 8, Board President Clay Lopez personally thanked Briggs for his service to the community and to the board.
“I am sorry to see you go, but I am looking forward to the next few months watching you finish out your career,” Lopez said. “Hopefully, we can be as much assistance to you as possible.”
Board Vice President Vanessa Niekamp mirrored Lopez’s statement.
“It’s been a blessing to know you and work with you, not only for the board but for our students and our community,” Niekamp said. “You will be missed, but we got till February to maybe talk you into something different.”
Brigg’s announcement comes less than two weeks after the school board (by a 3-2 vote) granted him a four-percent raise, a $15,000 “performance-based annuity benefit,” and an increase in payouts for unused sick and vacation leave.
A contract addendum approved by the Board of Education on August 8 stipulated that upon retirement Briggs would be compensated 50-percent of his accrued but unused sick days (up to 135 days maximum) “at the daily rate of pay effective at the time of separation from employment with the board”.
The addendum passed on June 24 raises the compensation to 100-percent of his accumulated number of days (currently at 280 days).
The addendum furthermore adjusted the daily rate calculation for severance purposes to (a) reduce the number of days that Briggs works per year from 260 to 220 days, and (b) include STRS contributions (both employer and employee).
Taken together, these changes increase his daily pay rate from roughly $760 per day to $933.63 per day.
At the time of publication of this article, the treasurer’s office estimates that these changes will increase Briggs’ severance payout from an estimated $49,515.97 to $261,416.40.
The June 24 addendum can be found on the Pickerington Schools Board Docs.
“The reason I voted NO on this year’s addendum to Dr. Briggs’ contract is the same reason I voted NO on last year’s addendum – the changes are simply too rich,” states board member Cathy Olshefski. “The Board of Education is responsible for stewarding public monies and overseeing the district’s operating budget. This severance package was outside the range I could support given the financial limitations of a public entity.”
The performance-based annuity benefit was added to Briggs’ contract last September when the school board voted to give him an 11.2% raise (9.2% base rate plus increased benefits). To earn the bonus, Briggs had to successfully perform the duties in his job description and meet or surpass goals defined by the board.
Board President Clay Lopez, Vice President Vanessa Niekamp, and Board Member JD Postage all voted that Briggs had fulfilled his obligation. School board members Olshefski and Mark Hensen were the dissenting votes. Olshefski had also been the only vote against giving the superintendent a raise last fall.
“I believe it’s important to distinguish between the performance of the district overall and the performance of any one individual within the district,” Hensen said. “I don’t believe the performance annuity is warranted.”
When Briggs came to the district in August 2017, he signed a five-year contract ending July 2022. His salary was $155,000. In January 2021, Briggs approached the board for a new contract, which the board approved that July.
The new contract was to be from August 2022 through July 2026. It was amended on August 8, 2022, then again on September 11, 2023, then again on June 24, 2024. His current salary is $205,400.
