A Half Million Here, A Half Million There
I found it unbelievable that Superintendent Smith would give principals extra time off with pay this summer while at the same time asking teachers to sacrifice. Oh yeah, there was an update this afternoon saying that principals will work harder later. I’m sure.
I calculated the cost of giving all principals 18 days off with pay. My estimate is conservative because I used the bottom end of the administrator salary schedule and most administrators are experienced and at higher steps. The district’s About PPS page says there are:
- 15 high schools
- 10 middle school
- 31 K-8s
- 27 elementary schools
- one K-12
- one 6-11
The total cost of the paid days off just for principals alone is $479,392. (Vice principals and assistant principals would also be getting time off with pay.)
How is PPS leadership going to be able lobby legislators for additional funding when they continue to make thoughtless decisions?
Better yet, how can Superintendent Smith justify closing schools to save money when the savings would amount to less than the cost of giving principals a break?
14 comments
Carrie, you are conservative, Beth said there were 130 administrators involved. I figured it was about 711,000 dollars. Equaling 8 teacher, 16 esl or special ed paras. I also find it amazing that they didnt just tell them to take their vacation up until the 19th of July because the big work would start them, no they said over the next 6 weeks take all the time you need. That means they wouldn’t start hiring until the middle of august. Talk about losing all the best teacher candidates. Yet both Hank and Carole probably don’t even realize or get it.
Moonlighting, you’re right. It was a conservative estimate. The 130 probably included the assistant and vice principals too. They definitely could have planned around the budget issue. They have done it for years. The days off are just another example of the culture of elitism at the top.
About that “losing all the best teacher candidates:” there has been a hiring and transfer freeze since early June. The school district cannot hire any new teachers until currently unassigned teachers have positions. Due to the freeze, unassigned teachers are on hold, in transfer limbo, as it were. As for “have a relaxing summer,” I have to tell myself, “There’s nothing I can do about it, so why stress out?” Well, that’s what I say, but I’m still stressing… and still wishing I could return to Marshall! *Sigh!*
yes we are on a freeze now Kathy but not all other districts are. So if Principals took their 6 weeks off like Hank Harris said, they wouldn’t come back until middle of August and then if there are any openings especially in hard to place spots: ESL and special ed, we would lose all the candidates who already got jobs. It s timing and telling principals to take summer off with pay , not until July 19th after the board meeting. Just looked really dumb.
The thing is, there are plenty of unassigned ESL teachers waiting for positions right now (I am one of them). I doubt the district could have hired any more ESL teachers as there was plenty of competition already for the “12 new positions”, which were really a collection of mostly 0.5 positions scattered around the districts.
Well, a friend in a neighboring district was hired two weeks ago by PPS, so it sounds as though they ARE hiring.
I was so shocked to read the article about this in WW. Really, PPS?????
Matt, was your friend hired as a teacher or some other position in the district? I ask because the district must first place teachers from Phases I & II before they can hire outside people.
Kathy, as a counselor.
I think the current freeze just affects teachers.
There was a freeze on all hiring. so that surprises me. Or does it? PPS is so transparent and honest!!!
Moonlighting, Yes…transparent and honest as eveidenced by this:
http://blogs.wweek.com/news/2010/07/16/pps-wont-release-proposed-central-office-budget-cuts-says-theyre-not-public/
Carrie I hope you knew I was being totally sarcastic. In all my dealings with PPS in the last 17 years I have rarely thought central office especially HR be anything but dishonest and uncaring towards the staff and families they are suppose to support.
Moonlighting, I knew that. I laughed out loud when I read your comment about PPS being transparent and honest.
Just when I think PPS couldn’t get any more ridiculous, they do something else. Unbelievable. Stunningly tone-deaf if nothing else. Unbelievable. I’m speechless.
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