Carmichaels school board OKs 5-year plan for administrative pay increases
CARMICHAELS – The Carmichaels Area School Board has handed out raises to most of the district’s top administrators, totaling $142,171 over the next five years. The board on Thursday approved the Act 93 administrative-compensation plan for principals, assistant principals and the director of special education and coordinator of pupil services that calls for a 3.2 percent salary increase in each of the five years of the plan and will give them one more personal day.
Lyn Shlosky, junior/senior high principal, will see her salary increase from $75,712 to $88,626.42, and assistant junior/senior high principal John Menhart’s salary will increase from $64,480 to $75,478.54 over the life of the agreement.
Mary Ann Taylor, director of special education, will see her salary rise from $64,480 to $75,478.54 by the time the agreement expires. New elementary principal Craig Baily will receive $80,998.54 by the time the deal ends, according to figures provided by the district.
The same agreements were approved for technology administrator Mark Batis and maintenance supervisor Lou May, while business manager Vince Belczyk received the 3.2 percent annual increase, but not an additional personal day.
By the end of the agreement, Batis’ salary will increase from $58,408 to $68,370.55, May’s will jump from $60,526 to $70,850.15, and Belczyk’s will go from $64,342 to $75,317.04.
The board also approved a five-year secretarial compensation plan for eight secretaries that calls for a $1,250 salary increase per year and one additional personal day. The directors also approved a five-year contract with security director Mike Gyurke, which increases his pay $1,250 per year and adds two personal days, one sick day and one additional emergency day.
Tim Jones, school and community fieldhouse facilitator, will receive a $2,500 increase in the first two years and $1,250 increases in the last three years of the agreement. Jones also will receive five additional vacation days beginning in the 2006-2007 fiscal year.
The board met in executive session for 90 minutes to discuss the agreements, which were approved 8-0, with the exception of May’s and Batis’, which were opposed by director Michael Conte, who chairs the budget and finance committee. Director Ron Ferek was absent.
Conte said the committee worked to negotiate the agreements, but he said he had some concerns about the amount of increases called for in the pacts.
“Everyone here has done an excellent job,” Conte said. “We have a top-quality staff and some of the best people, but my problem is some of the salaries, what they presently are and what we intend to increase them by.”
Board president Ken Ganocy said he also is concerned about the salary increases, but he said the district is making strides and needs the proper staff to continue making progress.
“The word is around that Carmichaels Area is improving in all areas,” he said.
“I’m going to support these raises and expect things to continue going the way they are with my vote.”
After the vote, director J.L. Lechner asked Belczyk for an overall cost to the district for administrators.
He asked that salary, benefits, retirement and all other costs associated with each position be included in the complete look at costs. He said the agreements approved will save the taxpayers of the district in the long run.
Meanwhile, the board approved the hiring of Baily as elementary principal, replacing Terry Ganocy, who retired last month. Baily had been assistant principal for the past two years, after serving more than 20 years in the district. Baily’s new salary will be $70,000, retroactive to July 1.
The board also conducted the following business:
– Hired David Demniak as a custodian, effective July 21. Conte voted against the motion.
– Accepted the retirement of high school physics teacher Patricia Gibson and the resignations of Ed Smell, yearbook sponsor; Angela Cole, senior high student council sponsor; and Charles Plasko, senior class sponsor.
– Awarded a $4,305 contract to Collegiate Pacific for the purchase of seven bleacher units for soccer.