Split Mt. Diablo school board OKs pay raises, reorganization
CONCORD — Five Mt. Diablo school district employees will receive raises totaling more than $55,000 next year, while teachers and other workers are prepared to go without salary increases through 2013.
Trustees voted 3-2 Tuesday to extend three-year contracts to four top administrators and to boost the salaries of four administrators and a secretary as part of a reorganization that includes increased responsibilities for the staffers due to the elimination of some positions. The highest raise will go to General Counsel Greg Rolen, whose annual salary will jump by nearly $28,000 to $190,000.
The board extended contracts for Rolen and the assistant superintendents for administrative services, elementary education, and student services and special education. A facilities and operations project manager will receive a salary boost of more than $11,000; the budget and fiscal services director will get a bump of more than $8,000 as his position is escalated to chief financial officer earning $140,000; the director of certificated personnel’s salary will be hiked nearly $6,000; and the administrative secretary to the superintendent will take home about $1,800 more a year.
“Everything we do in this district is about making sure we are providing for the children and the families in this district,” said trustee Paul Strange, who voted for the raises and contract extensions. “The individuals we are dealing with have provided key support to the Kids in our district. Some of it has been through significant cost savings.”
The board’s action came as officials have proposed no pay increases for teachers through 2013. That proposal, however, would protect teachers from pay cuts and furloughs.Trustees Dick Allen and Linda Mayo voted against the administrative raises and contract extensions, saying they preferred to wait until a new superintendent is hired. A labor union representative and athletic foundation board member asked the board to better analyze the reorganization before voting.
James Jones, who represents classified employees such as custodians and bus drivers, said it would be hard to explain administrative raises to employees who are taking on increased workloads with no pay increases.
“We were told we had to sacrifice and to bite the bullet,” Jones said. “We’re talking about individuals that haven’t seen a raise in maybe three or four years.”
Athletic foundation board member Jeff Adams said the raises could create problems for groups that are trying to generate support for a parcel tax campaign and for music and sports programs.
“To tell you the truth,” Adams said, “there are some people who were angry today.”
Strange, board President Gary Eberhart and Trustee Sherry Whitmarsh said they had received numerous e-mails and phone calls complaining about pay raises in tight economic times. But the trio defended them, along with the three-year contracts, saying it is important to retain key staff people who will remain after the retirements of Interim Superintendent Dick Nicoll, Associate Superintendent Alan Young and Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Gail Isserman.
Isserman’s position and an administrative assistant are being eliminated as part of the reorganization, saving about $260,000. Young’s position is being downgraded to assistant superintendent, saving nearly $15,000 and reducing the net cost of the raises to about $40,000.
Details about Mt. Diablo school district pay raises, contract extensions and proposed teachers’ union contract are available by calling 925-682-8000 ext. 4000 or online at http://esbpublic.mdusd.k12.ca.us. Click on Nov. 17 and choose items 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3.
