School Board approves 4.5 percent increases

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Twenty-four Jamestown Public School administrators will receive an average raise of about $3,800 for the 2009-2010 school year.

The Jamestown Public School Board approved a 4.5 percent raise for the district’s administration in a 4-1 vote at its regular meeting Monday. School Board members Gail Martin, Scott Walch, Rosemary McDougall and Tanya Ostlie were in favor. School Board President Roy Musland was opposed.

Board members Greg Allen, Ann Hoggarth, Gary Peterson and Mindi Grieve were not present.

The total cost to the district is about $91,700. That cost includes $30,000 to be used to increase the salaries of individuals who were hired at a salary lower than that of similar positions in other districts, said Bob Toso, superintendent. Those raises are at the discretion of the superintendent and will not require School Board approval.

Administrators include employees like principals, assistant principals, directors, technology personnel and social workers.

The decision meant the board did not accept the administrative salary schedule which would compensate administrators based upon level of education and years of experience. Teachers and support staff are paid based on a similar schedule.

Had the board adopted the administrative salary schedule, the total cost to the district would have been about $112,900 or about a $4,700 raise per administrator.

The costs to adopt the schedule are higher because some individuals were hired at a lower salary than what the position is worth, Toso said.

In terms of the salary schedule, he was concerned about employees at the top of the schedule. Once employees hit a certain level, they can still receive across the board percentage raises, but wouldn’t receive a raise based on education or years of experience. That’s a disincentive, Musland said.

Martin expressed concern about the schedule saying it didn’t allow for performance-based pay. She also raised concern about the value of raises. Had the board approved the salary schedule, administrators would have received an average raise of about 8 percent.

“I guess it’s (the 4.5 percent raise) a nice stepping stone to getting us there,” she said.

In other business, in a 3-2 vote, the board also approved a one-year superintendent’s contract for Toso at a salary of $115,000.

Ostlie, Musland and Walch were in favor while McDougall and Martin opposed.

The salary is a 4.55 percent increase from his current $110,000 salary and the increase amount Toso had asked for.

The length of the contract, however, is shorter than his previous three-year contract. Superintendents have signed three-year contracts for nearly 20 years, said Sally Ost, business manager.

Reducing the length of the contract is a “slap in the face,” Martin said. The three-year contract shows that the board has confidence in the superintendent’s work.

Ostlie disagreed.

She said she didn’t have a problem with Toso’s work, but the three-year contract protects the person, not the school system.

“Our job is to do what is best for the district,” she said.

Also, the board approved a $225,000 contract with High Point Network to install a new phone system throughout the district. The project will be paid for with stimulus dollars.

The board also approved a 10.7 percent business manager salary raise for Ost in a 4-1 vote with Ostlie opposed.

Ost was hired at a lower salary than what the position is worth, Toso said. He had recommended a 14.75 percent increase.

School Board members expressed concern about Ost’s level of education (she’s still working on a four-year degree) as well as public perception to that high of an increase.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Jamestown Public School Board is at 5:15 p.m. July 20.

Sun reporter Katie Ryan can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by e-mail at kryan@jamestownsun.com

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