Unfrozen at the top

As Pasco schools deal with an expected budget shortfall in the millions, one of the administration's key tools to keep spending in line has been a freeze of noninstructional positions.

The exception has been for "key" slots, which remain open for six weeks before they get filled. That's what happened for the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction job, the second-in-command post that carries one of the district's top salaries.

It's about to happen again for the assistant superintendent for elementary schools position.

The job ad drew four applicants -- three from outside the district and one from inside. Superintendent Heather Fiorentino "will not be interviewing an out-of-district applicants," a district spokesperson told the Gradebook, leaving just one possibility -- executive director for elementary education David Scanga (left) -- in the field. He interviewed this morning.

You'd be hard pressed to find someone in the system with negative things to say about Scanga, who has seen a meteoric rise through the ranks and who's known for his thorough and fair-minded work in such areas as testing and strategic planning. But the School Board has toyed with the idea of shrinking the administration to save money, a demand also suggested by the teachers association.

One key spot mentioned: oversight of elementary schools. Some have suggested leaving the elementary school executive director under the assistant superintendent for middle schools, saving one $100K+ salary. That's even been the interim solution since the elementary assistant superintendent job came open.

But Fiorentino has said she intends to fill the vacancy as soon as her mandatory six-week freeze ends. Board chairwoman Kathryn Starkey tells the Gradebook she supports that position, saying someone has to be in charge of elementary schools. She says Scanga's lower-level job is the one that will remain unfilled instead.

*

Comments

[Kim]

This issue is not about Dr. Scanga, nor his qualifications for the position. He is extremely qualified and the elementary schools in Pasco Co will be well served with him as a leader. Just ask any teacher at CWTES, WZES or LMES who taught when he served as principal or asst. principal. The question is the need for the position of Exec Director of Elementary Schools. CLEARLY in a year of tight budgets -- and in the future -- this is a redundant position and one which should not be filled. Promoting Dr. Scanga and leaving his present position empty is appropriate.

[Pat Connolly]

pst,
Since pensions are based on the average of the best 5 years the effect on retirement will only be to reduce that average by $1000.
However, your point about lifetime earnings is valid. A second year teacher would lose $22,050 over the course of a 30-year career. This is assuming the steps are only frozen for one year and steps resume the following year (but without "catching us up" by advancing two steps) with no improvements to the pay scale.

[publicschoolteacher]

No comments from the righteous anonymous?

[publicschoolteacher]

lowly teacher,

Another good question to ask is:
Since secretaries and others at the district level are neither part of the instructional nor the SRP bargaining units, will they be receiving their step increases this year (they are on a schedule, too)?

People who work their way up (like Dr. Scanga), put their time in, and pay their proverbial dues should receive some compensatory gesture for a job well done.

What some people fail to realize is that this "one time" denial of annual step increases actually affects teachers for the rest of their careers and retirement as well. Do you think next year we will be bumped up 2 years on the schedule? I doubt it. So that means we will always be a year behind on our schedule. Pensions are calculated using the 5 highest paid years of service. So, for the last 5 years, when increases are (right now) set at $1,000 for each year, pensions are going to be adjusted at $5,000 less than what they should be for each employee. Think about how that will affect people who are about to live on a fixed income for the rest of their lives. This goes far beyond this economically tough year. This snowballs into our futures.

[lowlyteacher]

It is obvious to me, a lowly teacher, that the criticism of patcon comes from administration who are too weak to identify themselves. They are of course part of the ol' boy/gal network in the 3rd floor with their myriad of secretarial staff who do absolutely nothing, in my opinion, for the STUDENT.

Now if HF really wanted to trim the budget she could start with them, rather than the ones with the ed degrees. Dr. Scanga earned his place there as did many of the people who have gone and gotten their parchment.

However, the secretaries at the district offices make more than a beginning teacher with a college degree....sounds equitable to me...NOT!

Check out the salary schedule and see for yourselves.

[Pat Connolly]

10:19,
Ad hominem attacks are a sign of weakness in your own position.

Where is the "hatred and negativity" in my post? I pointed out that Mrs. Fiorentino has dumped more work on teachers (LFS documentation, etc.) and places great value in symbolic rewards (5-star awards, etc.) and little value in monetary rewards (not a penny included in her budget for honoring the step increases for satisfactory service included in the current contract). I simply suggested that Mrs. Fiorentino could apply her principles (and the argument that some of the public use to justify not honoring the current teacher contract) to the situation involving Dr. Scanga.

I harbor no ill will toward Dr. Scanga and would fully support a pay raise for him to match his increased responsibility once economic conditions improve. But for now, what's good for the employee geese is good for the administration ganders.

[publicschoolteacher]

Pat seems to be a devoted teacher who sees the current administration for what it really is- people interested in reelection, not education. And we've never met!

Pat, you are an arrogant jerk who spews hatred and negativity on a daily basis.

[Pat Connolly]

Here's an idea. HF has no problem with dumping more work on lower level employees, like teachers, without wanting to increase our pay. She also seems to think that symbolic rewards are sufficient for doing well. So maybe she can simply give Scanga the title as a reward and have him keep his current salary. After all, as we teachers constantly hear, "he should be thankful he still has a job in these tough economic times."

It's about time someone suggested this. I cannot believe there is a Superintendent of Elementary AND an Executive Director? What the hell is that?

[Bernie]

By the way, maybe Kathryn Starkey can kick in $100K this year to pay for the position in question.

[Bernie]

Has anyone read the district's strategic plan? It is a piece of junk and was a waste of time and money. It sets 5 year goals for everything under the sun with improvement in all areas to be completed in that time. What an unrealistic plan. I worked in a government agency that used strategic planning and we certainly did not write our plan like that. We picked critical areas, that needed a plan for improvement or problem solving, and concentrated on them. When those were addressed we moved on to new areas of concern. Therefore, Dr. Scanga, who was responsible for the district's plan does not impress me at all. I can find a lot of uses for the $100K that we can save by not filling the position that he is applying for.