Trending
ALPENA -- The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education approved a pay increase for superintendent Dave Rabbideau at its meeting on Monday.
Rabbideau will receive a 4.4% hike in pay and an additional 0.8% to his annual annuity.
In a press release, APS announced the board action and praised Rabbideau for his job performance and dedication to the school system and students.
In the press release, Board President Ned Heath cited several factors for Rabbideau receiving a strong rating from the board in his annual review: starting out at the bottom of the pay scale without included annual increases, a low salary relative to area superintendents despite leading the largest district in the region, and strong leadership through the pandemic were considerations before the vote was taken.
"Several things have impressed me about Superintendent Rabbideau in his time here," Heath said in the press release. " He has guided the district through some of the most challenging times any educator has ever seen, he is very open in his communication with the board and he is highly visible in our community having fully integrated his family into life in Alpena."
Since being hired in October 2020, Rabbideau has helped the school district navigate through the pandemic. This included implementing mask mandates when local COVID-19 infection totals reached high levels. It also included the implementation of a new learning schedule, which had students gradually transition from at-home learning at the start of the pandemic to returning to in-person learning.
Through it all, Rabbideau said he learned a lot since being hired and said having the board in his corner was important to him.
"I am very appreciative and I am grateful for the board and the great relationship I have with it," Rabbideau said. "They are here for the kids and that helps me do my job."