Janesville school pay frozen for some, upped for others
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DuWayne Severson
JANESVILLE — The Janesville School Board voted 6-3 Tuesday to freeze pay for administrators this year but to give a flat dollar increase of $690 to 53 other non-union employees.
The same vote allowed $10,000 for bonuses to certain principals and other administrators for superior performance.
About 109 employees are not in unions. Some are administrators. Superintendent Karen Schulte had proposed a 3 percent increase in spending on pay for this group but met with resistance from the board at an earlier meeting.
Schulte proposed smaller increases in advance of this meeting, and she got part of what she asked for.
Schulte had asked for a $690 increase for all administrators at the end of the year if the budget contained enough surplus. The board rejected that recommendation.
The increases for the 53 non-administrators add up to $36,570.
Voting against the expenditures were DuWayne Severson, Bill Sodemann and Kevin Murray.
Severson noted that the board still has not balanced this year’s budget and is facing a deficit in the millions of dollars in 2012-13.
“It’s totally incomprehensible we’re going to do this,” Severson said, noting that he was in the minority. “I don’t get it. We don’t have the money.”
Board member Lori Stottler said the board had committed to a system of measuring administrators’ performance and rewarding those who do well, and the board should keep that promise.
Another group, the computer-service workers, had been targeted for pay increases because they are said to have taken on duties that are above their pay grade. Schulte said the board would take this issue up in closed session.
Schulte said the discussion had to be kept from public view because the board would discuss workers by name.
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Oct 14, 2011 at 11:10 a.m.
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Lori,
I thank you for your response. Believe me, I understand your logic in keeping good people and with that retaining the investment JSD already has in training and development. You (the school board) are stuck between a rock and a hard place. If you do not compensate sufficiently you risk losing good people but if you do compensate you have some in the community challenging you on it. The fact is, for the most part the private sector is in the same predicament you are in. I am not saying it is right nor the way it should be but the company I work for literally does not care if good people leave due to no raises. I will qualify that with they have no control to do otherwise. The money plain and simple is not there to offer raises. If they did, the stock holders would suffer and the CEO would probably then be out on his keester and he would not want that. Times are tough all over. If someone leaves employment of JSD due to no pay increase they were likely already on the fence about leaving anyway. If they can find a new job in the private sector, best wishes to them. There are other fine people out there begging to get in to somewhere like JSD that might be an even better fit. After 35 years in the work force I have seen many people come and go and have yet to see someone that cannot be replaced.
Oct 13, 2011 at 7:07 p.m.
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Lori, thank you for your response. I can understand making an investment. I am glad you are concerned about the quality IT people and administrators in the Janesville School District. However, what about all of the amazing educators who left the district because of cuts last year? I am extremely concerned that no one is noticing how many district-labeled "high performers" chose not to accept their recalls. You and other school board members are making decisions to retain good downtown people, but what about the quality teachers who directly impact students and student learning?
Oct 13, 2011 at 2:10 p.m.
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Frusion - We approved a TOTAL of $46,570 and I don't think we can afford not to approve the raises we did. There were still several folks on that list who are unrepresented by unions and make less than the private sector. I.T. people often stick to the private sector for the wages and benefits, thus, the equalization. As for the performance rewards, the $10,000 incentives are a small price to pay when you consider walking away from investing the number of people JSD has placed on the Journey to Excellence in order to make the most of a $3.2 million dollar gift from the Studer Group. Even when the Stock market is down, the worst advice would be to cash out and walk away...We've made the investment and committed to a long range return on investment - that being one of the TOP performing schools in the State and eventually, the Nation. Education involves taking empty minds and transforming them into open minds with ideas and goals for a strong future...
I have made many mistakes in the past 5 years on the board I'm sure. I've placed faith and hope in places I shouldn't have - but the decisions that need to be made to move forward take courage, foresight and MORE faith and hope...I won't give up on the SDJ or the Janesville Community! Let's kick this recession's rear end together! United we stand, divided we fall.
LORI
Oct 13, 2011 at 12:17 p.m.
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Lori Stottler, keep the promise if you can afford it. My gosh, the private sector must live in their means why are you above that governance? The company I work for is strapped and for 4 years running we got nothing toward an increase nor bonuses because the company did not have the money. I'm not on the soap box saying that if I can't have it no one else should either but I am presenting an example of how the real world works.
As for the computer service workers, once again the school year started out with (at least) the Parker teachers having issues logging in to the network lasting for several days. In your closed session when you are naming names, please note those responsible for the system not being ready for opening day of school. I realize they only had a couple of months to prepare so make sure you cut them slack for that.
Oct 13, 2011 at 11:56 a.m.
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WOW!!! Can anyone wrap their heads around this? So, we cut teachers because we need to be within budget and have no money. However, they are asking for the administrators to have a pay increase. I find this absolutely ridiculous and Schulte should be kicked in the pants for asking such a thing even be considered! If there is extra dollars, get some teachers back in the schools. Oh, and the to the computer service workers, welcome to how teachers must feel. Working more for less...but, remember (from previous postings) welcome to the real world and just be happy you have a job.
Oct 13, 2011 at 10:32 a.m.
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Good question for the rethuglicans.
Oct 13, 2011 at 9:09 a.m.
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This is utterly ridiculous. How could anyone in good conscience vote to voluntarily increase a deficit?
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