A 10% raise in the middle of a recession? Bullshit! Especially for a public sector job. While I think an education is important, I also believe paying the people who actually educate our children is important, the teachers. I think Kevin says it best;
Sioux Falls resident Kevin Kunkel thinks the raises should be re-evaluated, noting that many people have taken pay cuts during the recession.
“On the one hand, if you want to get good people you have to pay them. But on the other, there’s aren’t a lot of people in this area that make $100,000,” he said.
Nope. Just people who work in the public sector. Because hey, a contract is a contract. I never thought I would see a trickle down effect in government, but it is alive and well in Sioux Falls.
The SF school district does a pretty good job, but it seems top-heavy. I’m not always a big fan of business, but I sure wish all levels of government would use business judgment in staffing and compensation; rather than comparing their wages to each other to get push-me-pull-you increases. Public decisionmakers should have “it’s not my money, I’m entrusted with it for the people” imprinted on their thought processes.
Citizens in Bell, CA revolted due to city administrator salaries and the outrageous 12% annual increases they were afforded via their contracts. I won’t go so far as to say Sioux Falls school district salaries are anywhere near those levels, but a 10% raise is sheer lunacy – even worse in this economy.
What ever happened to pay for performance? We shouldn’t be handing out raises just because someone has shown up for work – it should be based upon results.
Administrators make ridiculous money compared to what teachers make. They should be freezing salaries for those who already live comfortably.
I read this and my jaw dropped, yet I am not surprised. In most working areas it is the higher ups that get raises while the peons are told times are tough or are just flat out underpaid. While the administrators do an important job, it is the teachers putting up with the BS from these idiots. If the teachers decided to walk out I would fully support them.
What amazes me is that there isn’t torches and pitchforks at the School Board meetings. I don’t have kids and my property taxes are pretty low (but the increases are too high IMO) and I am even pissed about this. These are public sector jobs, not Wall Street. You should get raises based on cost of living and inflation and a bonus based on performance. That’s fucking it.
Admin doesn’t live in Sioux Falls so she pays no RE tax toward schools. Add this and it’s a double screw for citizens.
In a couple years, Pammy will be saying that we have to cut this program or that program becuase of money concerns. Well, it seems as though they do not have that concern now after budgeting a 10% wage increase for the administration. Evenutally they will want an opt out for some reason or another and this will come back to haunt them. In the end, the kids will pay the price for this. The school board made love to the dog on this one.
Evenutally they will want an opt out for some reason or another and this will come back to haunt them.
You might consider reading the article. They already have an opt out and are planning to use the entire amount in 2013 – which is $5M. They are “only” using $2.7M this year, so that means property taxes have to go up to cover an additional $2.3M.
You can bet they will continue seeking an opt-out year after year as well because once the spigot is turned on… nobody has the strength to shut it off.
PG- Homan moved to the SF school district now.
It amazes me how she fought Stehly tooth and nail to not give subs raises (for three years) yet hands herself a 10% raise. Homan may be very smart, but if there is one thing I cannot fucking stand is hypocrites. Pam, you are a hypocrite.
Didn’t they message the retirement thing because there have been a lot of teachers retiring lately. That way they can hire newbies for less in order to fund the compensation for administrators?
I think you are right.