Norwich — School Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow received a glowing evaluation and a 2% raise for her response to the school district’s budget problems, the COVID-19 shutdowns and distance learning and for enacting management changes that have saved money.

The Board of Education completed the evaluation of Stringfellow’s performance during her first year as head of Norwich Public Schools on Tuesday and approved the written narrative, one-year contract extension and raise by an 8-0 vote, with member Aaron “Al” Daniels absent. Her salary will be $188,700 starting July 1.

Board Chairwoman Heather Romanski sent a written letter to Stringfellow on Wednesday summarizing the board’s findings and concluding with a desire to work further on budget issues in the coming year. In the letter, the board commended Stringfellow for tackling the school system’s chronic budget woes and for specific management changes that have saved money. Stringfellow created a residency officer position to evaluate whether some families actually live in Norwich, with tuition payment savings paying for the position, and enacted online school registrations, reducing paperwork and in-person rush of registrations.

In a telephone interview Tuesday night following the vote, Romanski said the board was pleased with Stringfellow’s response to the COVID-19 emergency, the state-mandated school closures and distance learning requirements, ensuring students had internet access and materials.

“The board feels not only did Superintendent Stringfellow take the budget situation head-on, which was well known by her coming in, but as far as the global pandemic, nobody saw that coming. Norwich Public Schools was not prepared for long-term distance learning. She steered us through that. And I’m very grateful for her leadership during the pandemic,” Romanski said.

Romanski said the board is aware that awarding a 2% raise could be criticized in light of the budget cuts that have led to the elimination of 43 full-time positions and 25 part-time temporary positions. She said based on Stringfellow’s “excellent” performance evaluation, the raise was justified.

“It keeps the position competitive,” Romanski said. “We felt she really did an excellent job managing distance learning, keeping the district going, managing a staff remotely. That’s not something we traditionally have to work with.”

Stringfellow was not available for comment on the evaluation Wednesday morning.

Romanski said Stringfellow also was without two key administrators who could have helped guide the district through the pandemic. The district’s assistant superintendent/curriculum director departed in December, and the grants writer left in April.

Mayor Peter Nystrom, who on Tuesday questioned the hiring of a new assistant superintendent when classroom positions are being cut, said the 2% raise is reasonable and in line with union raises and the city manager’s raise. According to the budget, City Manager John Salomone will receive a 2.5% raise to $163,161.

“I’m not going to quibble over 2%,” Nystrom said Wednesday. “I quibbled yesterday over the assistant superintendent. I think reading teachers were the priority.”

In the written evaluation, Romanski summarized Stringfellow’s busy first year, starting with an “exhaustive” tour of introductory meetings with community and educational leaders. Stringfellow also joined the school facilities review committee that endorsed a major plan to consolidate and renovate school buildings. A school building committee established by the City Council will work on the plan.

Romanski wrote that Stringfellow has created a “thorough” strategic plan for the school district. The board has discussed some changes to the plan, including a "continued investigation on ways to partner with the City to reduce costs overall.”

c.bessette@theday.com