Supporters of the Woodlan kindergarten-through-12th-grade campus project turned in more petition packets than their opponents by Tuesday’s deadline, according to voter registration officials.The teachers union president scolded the Fort Wayne Community Schools board Monday for not openly discussing a new pay structure for top administrators that allows them to move further up the salary scale.
Al Jacquay, president of the Fort Wayne Education Association, said it was “unconscionable” that the board approved a measure that will allow the chief financial and academic officers and three area administrators to receive raises without discussing it.
The board approved changing the structure at its Dec. 14 meeting as part of the personnel report but did not assign dollar amounts to the new salary steps.
Jacquay’s remarks at the Monday board meeting came after the board approved a personnel report that included a number of administrator switches, some that came with salary step increases.
The board did not discuss any of the changes or the pay increases.
Jacquay said it is important for the board to be transparent with the public and with teachers during a time when it will have to cut $15 million from its budget.
Board President Mark GiaQuinta this month challenged Superintendent Wendy Robinson to make bold cuts that could include programs, staffing and closing schools.
Jacquay said removing teachers to pay for raises for top administrators will not help students. He said it was disheartening at a January board meeting to see board member Kevin Brown be dismissed and brushed aside when he questioned other administrators receiving step increases “like it was a cover-up.”
“You have broken the trust between the teachers and the Fort Wayne Community Schools board,” Jacquay said.
GiaQuinta said he did not mean to contribute to a cover-up or not be transparent and believes a follow-up discussion is necessary.
“I honestly don’t think when we talked about that, we gave it enough time,” GiaQuinta said.
Robinson said it’s possible the community didn’t understand the idea of salary compression, a concept she believed was laid out clearly when the board discussed her contract but something that didn’t translate to the other administrators.
District officials have said they’ve been seeing some salary compression between the high school principals and the top administrators, who have more responsibilities, and to keep the higher positions competitive and alluring, it’s necessary to have them pay more.
The board is having a budget workshop at 5:30 p.m. March 2 to hear Robinson’s plans for how to cut $15 million.
It’s there that the board may discuss whether to give salary step increases this year, GiaQuinta said.
The board approved shuffling 11 principals and assistant principals as part of its effort to transform schools to be competitive for federal Race to the Top stimulus money.
Three of the schools set to be revamped, Adams, Bloomingdale and South Wayne elementary schools, will have new principals next year.
The moves also include salary step increases for five of the 11 administrators.
