Here is a recent article concerning Vineland schools. This is what our new funding formula could have in store if we Millville have not planned ahead.
Trapped Vineland OKs raises
Thursday, March 13, 2008
By JASON LADAY
jladay@sjnewsco.com
VINELAND -- The city board of education Wednesday night approved a set of pay raises for the district's four assistant superintendents, with Board President Frank Giordano casting the lone dissenting vote.
The decision followed a public hearing, in which both taxpayers and district employees -- some in danger of losing their jobs in recent budget cuts -- urged the board to vote down the raises.
Last week, the board approved what they called a "fluid budget" for the 2008-09 year, calling for the first school tax increase in six years as well as 7 percent budget cuts to every school in the district.
The proposed $189 million school budget includes a 2.5-cent tax hike for residents and eliminates up to 22 teaching positions.
The cuts were necessary, according to Vineland Public Schools Superintendent Charles Ottinger, because of a new state school funding formula that would have otherwise forced residents to pay an additional $20 million in taxes towards the district. The 2.5-cent tax increase covers $500,000 of that amount.
The three-year contracts containing the raises cover a time period from July 1, 2007 to 2010.
According to Ottinger, Assistant Superintendent of Administration Keith Figgs will receive $145,626 the first year, with 2.62 percent increases in subsequent years up to 2010.
Assistant Superintendent of Business Kevin Franchetta gets $131,086 in his first year of the contract, and a 3 percent raise each year up to 2010.
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Mary Gruccio will be paid $125,313 and receive a 4 percent raise in subsequent years.
Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Ted Peters is set to receive $135,453 the first year, with 2.62 percent raises in the next years to come.
Peters' position is one of those on the chopping block in the proposed 2008-09 budget.
The three-year contract will dictate his salary until next year's budget takes effect.
Ottinger defended the board's decision, stating everyone else who received raises in the district were awarded a 4.4, 4.6 or 5 percent raise. (Like Millville, perhaps??)
He added the assistant superintendents did not earn the highest salaries in the district, pointing to members of the Vineland Administrators and Supervisors Association as the top earners in Vineland Public Schools.
"Everyone else's raises were settled before, but this happens to be taking place during a budget crisis," said Ottinger. "The 2.62 percent increases are simple cost of living raises, and the others are higher because they are paid less. I think this is fair."
The superintendent did admit the school district should and would have settled for lower raises had he known of the coming crisis. (Did we plan ahead for the future??)
The board was originally scheduled to hold a public hearing on the pay raises on Jan. 15. However, it was pulled from the agenda, as members said they needed more time to discuss the issue.
While Giordano declined to comment on his vote, many residents in attendance stood up to speak against the measure, stating they "had no idea" why the board would consider such salary increases at a time when teaching positions are in danger.
"Now's not the time," said John McGee, a security officer at Vineland High School, adding he turned down his own pay raise after learning of the budget cuts. "I know someone who works in the cafeteria. She makes nothing, works hard, and she's going to be fired because of the cuts.
"You're going to lose a lot of people at the bottom, and you're at the top. It doesn't show what's good for everyone."
Other district employees who work directly with students questioned the wisdom of the raises in the face of budget cuts they say will affect children.
"I don't see why this would happen when so much -- I mean the safety patrol and everything -- is being taken away," said a library aide at Petway Elementary School. "Things are being cut that affect our children at the lowest levels. I just don't understand."
A counselor at Landis Intermediate School asked whether the 570,000 in raises over three years could be used to save a teacher's job.
"I think it's unconscionable that there are pay raises for some of the top jobs when cutting so much," said East Oak Road resident Amy Camp. "And there's no place the raises are coming from but my pocket. I don't see where it's justified at this point in time."
The board took its time explaining their vote, trying to stress how hard for them the decisions to approve both the budget cuts and Wednesday's raises were.
"I understand everyone's concern. But everyone deserves cost of living pay increases, and these assistant superintendents go above and beyond the call of duty," said board member Paul Spinelli. "The cuts in the budget are indeed fluid, and we're going to try and put back as much as we can."
Both Ottinger and Board Vice President Jacqueline Gavigan expressed feelings that the board's hands were tied as far as the budget was concerned, and if people wanted to speak out, they should attend the public meeting with state Education Commission Lucille Davy -- scheduled for today at Cumberland County College for 4:30 p.m.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine in December unveiled the revamped school funding formula, providing all school districts with at least a 2 percent increase in aid next year, with many middle-income districts set to receive up to a 20 percent boost.
The intent of the new formula is to help ease the property tax burden on residents by basing aid on the needs of individual students in a district, no matter where they live. However, under this proposal, the state's 31 Abbott districts receive smaller percentage increases than their wealthier counterparts.
Those districts are currently seeking to challenge the new formula in the state supreme court, according to Ottinger.
"This is the biggest fight this board has ever faced," said Ottinger
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