Southbridge schools chief tops list of town employee salaries for 2023

SOUTHBRIDGE — The schools and police departments topped the list of most-paid municipal employees for calendar 2023, with the fire department also placing in the top 26.

The Civil War monument in front of Southbridge Town Hall

Superintendent Jeffrey Villar topped the list with a total pay of $245,366.30, followed by Deputy Police Chief José A. Dingui ($192,552.93) and Police Chief Shane D. Woodson ($163,531.42).

Villar's earnings have come from the state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education since 2017, when Southbridge Public Schools entered a receivership with the state. His earnings were taken from the DESE website.

Receiverships are a common practice for underperforming school districts that are taken under management by the state for improvement.

The list of top earners for calendar 2023 continued with Jeffrey T. House, the Southbridge Middle School principal, who grossed $159,844.78, followed by José A. Ortiz, the Southbridge High School principal ($157,683.31).

Other members of the police and the schools' departments also placed on the top 10 list, with Karen Giangregorio, director of student services at Southbridge Public Schools, placing ninth with a gross total of $142,692.37.

Fire Chief Paul F. Normandin, the highest-paid member of the fire department, was 16th in the town with gross earnings of $133,773.54.

Here's the top 26 earners list for calendar 2023, based on information provided to the Telegram & Gazette by the Town of Southbridge:

Superintendent Jeffrey Villar, $245,366.30
Deputy Police Chief José A. Dingui, $192,552.93
Police Chief Shane D. Woodson, $163,531.42
Principal Jeffrey T. House, Southbridge Middle School, $159,844.78
Principal José A. Ortiz, Southbridge High School, $157,683.31
Acting Police Lt. Carlos Dingui, $156,430.04
Principal Joanne Wilson, West Street Elementary School, $147,431.06
Police Sgt. Ryan S. Roettger, $147,125.44
Karen Giangregorio, director of student services at Southbridge Public Schools, $142,692.37
Police Det. Scott D. Alicea-Bailey, $141,327.77
Judy Maisonet, chief of staff at Southbridge Public Schools, $139,800.00
Kathleen E. Cadarette, director of school support at Southbridge Public Schools, $137,596.00
Police Officer Dean S. Bruneau, $135,980.96
Principal Kelly E. Gelineau, Eastford Road Elementary School, $135,783.57
Police Officer Angel L. Rosario, $135,210.45
Fire Chief Paul F. Normandin, $133,773.54
Kelly A. Williamson, director of elementary education at Southbridge Public Schools, $133,657.74
Acting Police Lt. Robert M. Salisbury, $132,700.83
Jonathan E. Parent, director of technology and communications at Southbridge Public Schools, $131,488.45
Donna Zannelli, science coordinator at Southbridge High School, $130,659.25
Fire Lt. Jacques G. Kallanian, $130,402.87
William J. Metzger, director of human resources and district records officer, Southbridge Public Schools, $129,565.47
Police Det. Darren J. Dodge, $128,176.24
Police Sgt. John F. Fahey, $125,834.60
Principal Sarah J. Houle, Southbridge Middle School, $125,738.46
Police Sgt. Jordahn C. Witherspoon, $125,180.48