Post by title1parent on Aug 10, 2010 4:40:28 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/2581866,2_1_AU10_OSSCHOOLS_S1-100810.article
Oswego school administrators get raise
August 10, 2010
By ROWENA VERGARA rvergara@stmedianetwork.com
OSWEGO -- School Board members voted 5-1 to raise administrator salaries by 2.7 percent Monday, a move that extends a raise to the district's leadership team for the first time in two school years.
The district is grappling with a loss of administrators, many who have left Oswego schools to do the same job in other districts for more pay.
Associate Superintendent Todd Colvin said about 20 administrators have left the district in three years, and half of those accepted the same position for $15,000 to $25,000 more than their salary with the Oswego district.
Board member Laurie Pasteris was the lone dissenter.
"We cut teachers, we have cut TAs; this company is broke and it's just not a good time to give a raise."
During the budget approval process in the spring, Pasteris previously asked for administrators to contribute 10 percent into health care benefits, but that measure was shot down.
In other news, the state currently owes the Oswego School District $3.9 million in categorical grants. But because the district has heavily cut its expenses, the district may only be behind $500,000 in the coming school year.
Finance Director Tim Neubauer said the district's expenses are $1.32 million less than what was budgeted.
And not only have expenses come in lower, but revenues have come in higher than projected because property tax revenues were surprisingly higher, he said.
About $1.8 million in expenses was cut by eliminating a substitute teacher budget. The consequence, however, is teachers will forego conferences, workshops and training programs to eliminate paying substitutes.
But the state's cuts to education have not changed for the better.
According to Neubauer, the state is: reducing General State Aid to each Oswego student by $450; funding categorical grants at 80 percent; and severely trimming transportation funds. The state plans to fund transportation at 48 percent, when it was scheduled to pay out 80 percent, Neubauer said.
Oswego school administrators get raise
August 10, 2010
By ROWENA VERGARA rvergara@stmedianetwork.com
OSWEGO -- School Board members voted 5-1 to raise administrator salaries by 2.7 percent Monday, a move that extends a raise to the district's leadership team for the first time in two school years.
The district is grappling with a loss of administrators, many who have left Oswego schools to do the same job in other districts for more pay.
Associate Superintendent Todd Colvin said about 20 administrators have left the district in three years, and half of those accepted the same position for $15,000 to $25,000 more than their salary with the Oswego district.
Board member Laurie Pasteris was the lone dissenter.
"We cut teachers, we have cut TAs; this company is broke and it's just not a good time to give a raise."
During the budget approval process in the spring, Pasteris previously asked for administrators to contribute 10 percent into health care benefits, but that measure was shot down.
In other news, the state currently owes the Oswego School District $3.9 million in categorical grants. But because the district has heavily cut its expenses, the district may only be behind $500,000 in the coming school year.
Finance Director Tim Neubauer said the district's expenses are $1.32 million less than what was budgeted.
And not only have expenses come in lower, but revenues have come in higher than projected because property tax revenues were surprisingly higher, he said.
About $1.8 million in expenses was cut by eliminating a substitute teacher budget. The consequence, however, is teachers will forego conferences, workshops and training programs to eliminate paying substitutes.
But the state's cuts to education have not changed for the better.
According to Neubauer, the state is: reducing General State Aid to each Oswego student by $450; funding categorical grants at 80 percent; and severely trimming transportation funds. The state plans to fund transportation at 48 percent, when it was scheduled to pay out 80 percent, Neubauer said.