BREAKING NEWS: School Committee gives Supt. Dr. Sippel two-year contract extension

Unanimous vote: Malden Public Schools leader contract now runs through 2028-29 academic year

By Steve Freker

The Malden School Committee voted unanimously Monday night to extend the contract of Superintendent of Schools Timothy Sippel, Ed.L.D. by two additional years. Dr. Sippel was hired by the School Committee in June 2024 and is in the midst of the second year of a three-year contract that began on July 1, 2024, and was originally going to June 30, 2027. With Monday’s vote, Dr. Sippel’s contract now extends two additional years, through the 2027-28 and 2028-29 academic years, five years in all.

The vote was taken at Monday night’s regular Malden School Committee meeting, following a 21-minute private Executive Session meeting closed to the public. Executive Session is customary when personnel matters are the topic of discussion. The regular meeting was adjourned at 8:04 p.m., and the School Committee then voted to go into Executive Session with one of the express purposes — as listed on the agenda — “to discuss strategy sessions in preparation for contract negotiations with non-union personnel (Superintendent of Schools)”.

Two other items on the agenda for Executive Session were a vote on the expected approval of the October 6 meeting’s Executive Session minutes; and “to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation with SEIU Local 888 (Cafeteria Workers)…”

After about 21 minutes, the School Committee was gaveled back into session at 8:25 p.m., and the meeting resumed. School Committee Chairperson Mayor Christenson asked if there were any motions to be considered, and Vice Chairperson Jennifer Spadafora made a motion to accept a Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) on terms for a new contract for the SEIU Local 888 cafeteria workers. The new contract terms were not disclosed, but the vote was unanimous in favor of the new pact.

When Mayor Christenson asked if any other motions were being made, Vice Chair Spadafora made a new motion for the School Committee to accept new contractual terms for Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sippel. The motion was seconded by Ward 5 School Committee member Elizabeth Hortie, and the School Committee voted unanimously, 9-0, to accept the new terms. Although the terms were not discussed in open session, according to reports, the terms included extending Supt. Dr. Sippel’s contract by two years.

The meeting was then adjourned at 8:40 p.m.