Austin American-Statesman columnist John Kelso wrote a column defending AISD former superintendent getting paid $215,278.72 for unused vacation time.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/07/03/0703kelso.html
Really? You think the AISD retiring Superintendent deserved the "pay-ola" for just lasting that long? Has student performance improved? Has the dropout rate improved? Doesn't appear to have. And since when have you known of a school superintendent who, when fired, doesn't get hired at another school district? They take care of one another when either the Texas Association of School Boards or a former superinetndent (like former State Rep. Bob Griggs) does the headhunting for school districts. Superintendents are managers and should be paid on performance, not longevity. And let's remember that each education dollar spent comes out of taxpayers' pockets.
Let's look at AISD: the dropout rate is 25%, of the 80% tested for college admission only 37% tested at or above criteria; the District has more non-teaching staff than teachers; teachers make $15,000 less than other professional staff at their schools; while total annual revenue per student is over $10,000 less than half -- $4,547 -- is spent on instruction; and AISD is rated only Academically Acceptable, second from the bottom?
Now explain how the superintendent deserves $215,278.72 for vacation time when the average teacher would work for five years to earn that much.
It is laughable, but not funny.
1 comment:
Kelso said it would be worse if Forgione hadn't been Superintendent and the school board should honor the contract, as they did.
One burning question still remains: Can you determine how in 10 years he accrued 174 days vacation time? His contract allowed for 14 vacation days a year. Even if he took no vacation days, wouldn't he have accrued 140?
Now, he did also have five personal days a year and 8 sick days, along with the 12 days provided for him to do outside consulting work. But none of these could be carried forward. If he was with the district 10 years, and took NO vacation time, he would have 140 vacation days. But he still would have had time off under the personal days and "consulting" days.
I agree they should honor the contact, but it is a sweet deal:
Superintendent can engage in outside consulting up to 12 days a year without those days counting against any leave. At the end of each year, a $15,000 bonus is to be considered. A tax-sheltered annuity designated by the Superintendent has been funded – to the tune of $39,000 over the first three years and $24,000 the fourth and subsequent years (the current Superintendent has been in office 10 years.) The taxpayers pay for a new lease car each 2 years, complete with insurance, repairs, OR $1,000 a month auto allowance for work and personal use, all health insurance for the Superintendent and his family, disability income protection, luncheon club membership, health club membership, provide home computers, fax, cell phone, (stipulated that all personal information on computers is private), 14 vacation days a year (almost 3 weeks) plus 5 days personal leave time a year, district pays for whole life insurance premiums for $185,000, moving expenses, travel and temporary housing.
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