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Post by macrockett on May 3, 2011 6:00:10 GMT -6
www.dailyherald.com/article/20110503/news/705039976/print/New contract for Birkett in Dist. 204 By There were warm fuzzies for outgoing board members, civil discussions over the superintendent’s contract, and then sniping once the new board was seated Monday at the Indian Prairie Unit District 204 school board meetings. First, the board honored outgoing members Alka Tyle, who lost her re-election bid after serving on the board since 2006, and Mark Metzger, who did not seek a sixth term after serving since 1991. Both were praised for their dedication to the district. Then, in one of its last acts, the board voted to a three-year contract extension for Superintendent Kathy Birkett. The vote was unanimous in favor of the length of the extension, but split on pay raises. While Birkett makes $210,000 a year, her pay will be increased by 3 percent in the next school year, 4 percent the following year and 5 percent in the final year of the contract. Board Member Christine Vickers said that while she is thankful the district has Birkett, she couldn’t justify the pay increases in light of the state’s current financial crisis due to its grossly underfunded public pension system. Vickers thought the pay increases should be smaller, even though it is not uncommon for end-of-career raises for school officials to be at 6 percent. “In my view it is more about what we can afford here than in keeping up with the Joneses somewhere else,” Vickers said. She and board member Dawn DeSart voted against the salary and benefits portion of the contract extension. Other board members supported the pay increases. “I think we’re getting the deal of the century from the standpoint of we are the third largest school district in the state and we have a superintendent that will be making the 79th in the state,” Board President Curt Bradshaw said of where Birkett ranks in compensation. Metzger also pointed out that if Birkett retired early, the district would be on the hook for higher short-term costs before her retirement benefits started. “We’ve given her, frankly, a very small incentive to avoid what would be a very large payment for us,” he said. Birkett, who hasn’t decided if she’ll retire in three years, said she looks forward to seeing through many district plans in progress like an overhaul of curriculum. After the board adjourned, a new meeting was called to order to swear in incumbent Bradshaw and newcomers Lori Price and Mark Rising. There were sniping and personal jabs as board members elected Bradshaw board president, Susan Rasmus vice president and Cathy Piehl secretary. “It is as you ordained,” DeSart said to Bradshaw. There were jabs between Price and Rising as well. “It starts to get personal and it’s so tacky. It’s so wrong,” Vickers said. Copyright © 2010 Paddock Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Post by Arch on May 3, 2011 6:04:01 GMT -6
Mr. Metzger....
IT IS ALL TAX PAYER MONEY, regardless.
That's the part you did not get last night. With the new contract, Retirement will average about $248K PER YEAR OF TAX PAYER MONEY. Very nice parting gift you gave out there as a final vote.
"Deal of the century" ? Really Curt? I have a bridge that's for sale. Such a deal! Talk to some people in the know in 203 as to what happened when the job hunting looked that direction prior to this.
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Post by macrockett on May 3, 2011 6:37:28 GMT -6
"Metzger also pointed out that if Birkett retired early, the district would be on the hook for higher short-term costs before her retirement benefits started. 'We’ve given her, frankly, a very small incentive to avoid what would be a very large payment for us,' he said."
Being one to question the logic of the Board, on occasion, I went to the podium for my exhaustive 3 minute analysis of Metzger's logic. I inelequently pointed out that there are two pots, if you don't fall in one, you fall in the other. Meaning that you either pay from the left pocket or the right.
To briefly expound, before doing some due diligence to get all the facts, as taxpayers we pay for education directly through property taxes and indirectly through income taxes. According to Metzger, we "avoided a very large payment" by giving "a very small incentive."
Like most things, I respond by saying "show me the numbers." Of course, like most of Metzger's analyses, here he did not provide any tangible proof to support his conclusion. Metzger focuses on the left pocket, property taxes. But what about the right pocket? Income taxes
In my opinion, prior to doing the work required to properly answer the question, if all Districts
would step up and end the largess to Superintendents there would be less of a cost for this 800+ pool of people.
Because Naperville and the other areas attending 204 are relatively more affluent, we pay a disproportionate share of the State's income taxes, and therefore, it's educational expenses, which include retirement benefits. If superintendent's salaries continue unfettered, we pay a larger proportion of that cost through our income taxes.
Bottom line, while Metzger's statement may be correct, it is only a part of the equation and is insufficient in answering the question regarding Birkett's salary and benefits.
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Post by southsidesignmaker on May 3, 2011 8:02:02 GMT -6
Big Mac,
Thanks for stepping up to the plate last evening.
Even with MM focus on the "Deep Left Pocket", even that pocket is showing the strain of recent economic events. How long will residents watch as the actual residential tax rate climbs (at triple the rate of inflation) especially in light of falling residential / commercial values.
Of course with 10% of the electorate showing up to vote and answers like the one I received from my neighbor (well at least my taxes went down a couple a hundred dollars), maybe the tax rate increases can go on indefinitely.
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Post by wvhsparent on May 3, 2011 8:17:31 GMT -6
I have to agree with you folks. While her salary is in line for the area: They said 210k Family Taxpayers Foundation ( www.familytaxpayers.org/salary.php ) shows her salary at 231k Compared to surrounding districts(Rounded) 203 - 242k Oswego 308 - 221k East Aurora 301 - 218k West Aurora - 245k IMHO she should only get what the Teachers would get - It's called setting an example. |
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Post by doctorwho on May 3, 2011 8:32:23 GMT -6
I have to agree with you folks. While her salary is in line for the area: They said 210k Family Taxpayers Foundation ( www.familytaxpayers.org/salary.php ) shows her salary at 231k Compared to surrounding districts(Rounded) 203 - 242k Oswego 308 - 221k East Aurora 301 - 218k West Aurora - 245k IMHO she should only get what the Teachers would get - It's called setting an example. yep- exactly. The admin staff is up next - what are they going to tell them- they're holding the line the $231 is correct because her increase equal $29K and slary becomes $260. That fiure comes from the work Christine Did that equates this to $7M of pension..not even counting benefits of $125K over the next few years we agreed to pay. Also note this contract superceded the last one-NOT an extension..so she got her raise a year early- so it is actually worth more. Admin is due very shortly- what do we tell them after the lucrative increase to the Super? Someone needs to get the checkbook from Curt's hands- however will be tough as he stacked the officers (4-3) with his rubber stamp members |
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Post by southsidesignmaker on May 3, 2011 8:32:56 GMT -6
wnhsparent,
Agreed setting an example goes along way. It puzzles me that we can have subcontract labor at the janitorial level of our school district and pay the teachers assistance a very uncompetitive wage (very low). This type of behavior is typical in the private sector. Such a shame that some bad habits in the private sector has crossed over into the public sector. Ask the janitorial staff (in district) about their benefit package since their jobs have been eliminated and transferred to the private sector.
Why not look at the benefit package of these line employees when setting the bar for our leaders. I can see that union leaders are going to have a field day with this contract. Maybe the next elected board member can be someone that leads by example and have perspective regarding actions taken at the top and the affect regarding the rank and file (trickle down bargaining?).
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Post by southsidesignmaker on May 3, 2011 8:35:46 GMT -6
Doc,
Is Curt still blaming the state and considering holding 204 employee payroll taxes hostage. This contract really is difficult to understand in this environment.
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Post by doctorwho on May 3, 2011 8:36:54 GMT -6
Bottom line, while Metzger's statement may be correct, it is only a part of the equation and is insufficient in answering the question regarding Birkett's salary and benefits.
-- As I so often am, I am reminded of a line from Star Wars..." Well that's true, from a certain point of view' !
As usualy with Mark , he stays just inside the legal guidelines ( although ethical guidelines IMHO are obliterated) - and also just insde the ring of truth.
I really want to see the facts behind the comment made about charter schools and that 83% of them fail to educate as well as the public schools they replace. I call B.S. on this. In what setting ? Where ? Show me the facts--
One of the truest statements of the night came from CP's rambling - "Mark, you are a true liberal "
Bingo !
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Post by Arch on May 3, 2011 8:37:53 GMT -6
Doc, Is Curt still blaming the state and considering holding 204 employee payroll taxes hostage. This contract really is difficult to understand in this environment. I'll have to dig through my notes when Dash left and KB got the job, but I thought she was contracted through 2012. If that's true, why the early renewal and does it merely extend or REPLACE her existing one a year early? I'm sure I have a copy of it somewhere in some closet next to a set of bones.... |
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Post by macrockett on May 3, 2011 8:41:02 GMT -6
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Post by doctorwho on May 3, 2011 8:42:46 GMT -6
Big Mac, Thanks for stepping up to the plate last evening. Even with MM focus on the "Deep Left Pocket", even that pocket is showing the strain of recent economic events. How long will residents watch as the actual residential tax rate climbs (at triple the rate of inflation) especially in light of falling residential / commercial values. Of course with 10% of the electorate showing up to vote and answers like the one I received from my neighbor (well at least my taxes went down a couple a hundred dollars), maybe the tax rate increases can go on indefinitely. my guess is people like your neighbor who con't educate themselves on this likely will fall victim to this economy eventually anyway-- and then they will be the first to say"what happened" ? It cannot go on forever. How long do you think before Quinn comes back for more money and more borrowing ( hint- already being discussed ) - The tax rate % increase this time will be dwarfed by future ones as 204 struggles to pay off over $300M in debt-- most of which should not be there. Found out yesterday savings from closing a school building thru consolidation is a savings of about $1M / year--( that is without selling it which of course isn't going to happen in these times ) - Oh yeah, those of you wondering- already being discussed. If someone tells you it isn't- they're lying. So how long before May Watts moves to Owen- two under utilized ES's- even with all the boundary changes. On the blocks over the next 3-5 years you can expect 2-3 Es, 1 MS and 1 HS. Yep -- 1 HS after paying $150M for that shiny attraction on Eola.. As the state continues to cut what they send- this reality is just around the corner-- and this time it's not BS scare tactics about split shifts and program cuts. |
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Post by Arch on May 3, 2011 8:48:48 GMT -6
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Post by doctorwho on May 3, 2011 8:54:36 GMT -6
Doc, Is Curt still blaming the state and considering holding 204 employee payroll taxes hostage. This contract really is difficult to understand in this environment. a few comments about state funding snuck in yesterday but this is a reality Curt and others like him don't seem to acknowledge. It is still the early 90's for this guy and money is flowing from fountains across 204. And on the board he has a few others who couldn't add 2 and 2 and come up with less than 6 in a financial sense- they look to him- God help us. Rising is doing due diligence to fiscal responsiblity issues and will be a welcome addition to the board- and Christine always has her homework done, as she did last night having an actuary extrapolate out what the salary increase we gave was really worth- even though it went completely over the heads of a few of her board peers. this SSSM is the 'Good ol boy network' still in place... they took care of her, plain and simple. Was she going to walk away from a $260K job in today's world ? If she would, I say don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. Of course she wasn't leaving and just because she didn't get the max she sought - this was no bargain for us here. Bargain of the century, God, where is this guy's head ? Was the the 'negotiating' skill he used in the discussions ?  And as far as her salary competiively- for the number of years she's been a super it is damn good...also I'll offer this up -- issue wise this is likely one of the easier districts to manage. Financials aside -( and we are going to pay dearly for those choices)- how much harder would CPS or East St Louis-- or a district that didn't have the financial wherewithall to give SB members any damn thing they want be ? It's the cost of labor honey -- not your perceived value. How many outstanding canidates do you think we'd get here in 204 for $225K a year if the job hit the open market ? And maybe not someone inbred to the politics that rule 204 |
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Post by doctorwho on May 3, 2011 8:56:15 GMT -6
wnhsparent, Agreed setting an example goes along way. It puzzles me that we can have subcontract labor at the janitorial level of our school district and pay the teachers assistance a very uncompetitive wage (very low). This type of behavior is typical in the private sector. Such a shame that some bad habits in the private sector has crossed over into the public sector. Ask the janitorial staff (in district) about their benefit package since their jobs have been eliminated and transferred to the private sector. Why not look at the benefit package of these line employees when setting the bar for our leaders. I can see that union leaders are going to have a field day with this contract. Maybe the next elected board member can be someone that leads by example and have perspective regarding actions taken at the top and the affect regarding the rank and file (trickle down bargaining?). exactly- you're current school board presidents tough negotiating stance " we're getting the bargain of the century" |
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