120610 Community reacts to school district administrative raises

By Sharon Haught
November 29, 2010
270

Members of the community concerned about the recently approved raises for Wooster City School District administrative personnel made their voices heard during the November meeting of the Board of Education. I do not understand it, said Ted Holvey noting that the narrow 81 vote margin by which the levy passed should have been a loud and clear message to the board that maybe this isnt the right time to give raises. If that wasnt apparent then youre living in a glass house my friends. We have to put this into perspective in this economy and were in the worst economy since the depression. My feeling is the board and the superintendent, you all just dont get it, Holvey added. There are a lot of people that are doing the right thing as far as saying we are in rough times, this isnt the time to give raises, said Holvey referring to the wage freezes in place for county employees and members of the Wooster police and fire departments. Im still to this day amazedthat under these trying economic times (for) people that are making very good wages to ask the taxpayers to fund raises is like a slap in the face, said Holvey. I dont think the voters are going to forget this time, said Holvey. This is truly a travesty. I think its a terrible public relations item for you board members, agreed Gary Oswald. I voted for the money for the kids. The ink wasnt even dry and the raises came through, said Oswald adding I dont begrudge at all the money that these administrators make but there are times when you have to hold the line. I voted for the levy but believe you me it will be a long time before I vote for another one, said Oswald I think it was very much out of line to ask for more taxes when other people have lost jobs and are losing their houses, said Louise Liebhart adding that she too wouldnt vote for future levies. Ted Bogner raised questions as to when the board began considering the pay increases. The raises were granted in October and the levy was in August. Thats only two months. Does that mean that you were contemplating these raises when you came to the public to ask us to vote in August for a special election? Bogner asked the board members. Board President Jim Barnard noted that a wide variety of decisions from compensation to curriculum are being contemplated and discussed continuously. These are discussionsthat happen throughout the year because of the natural cycles that we have to deal with as a board, said Barnard. Board member Mike Steiner noted that while he was relatively new to the board he was part of the decision making process for the administrative increases. The last three years we cut seven administrative positions out of this organization and weve asked these administrators to assume those responsibilities and continue to move forward with student achievement, said Steiner. As I look at that decision if Im able toeliminate seven positions, save almost $700,000 in salary and benefits, in a business Im going to make that decision 10 out of 10 times, said Steiner. I grant you there was a lot of deliberation about the public sentiment about this, about difficult times for this community, but its also our responsibility to hire and retain quality leadership for this organization, said Steiner. Barnard thanked those who came forward to express their opinions and encouraged the community to continue to engage with the board and give us feedback on the multitude of decisions we face because I can tell you there are many more challenges that face this board and this district.

120610 Community reacts to school district administrative raises

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