At what point does WELL-compensated become OVERcompensated?

“Van Dyke said Barnes was hired during good economic times and that her pay was lower

than other area superintendents.” Valley Times, Oct.6

1. The district filed a ‘qualified budget’, possibly the first time ever, the year Barnes was

hired. ---“Good economic times?”

2. Over half the districts in the county were filing qualified budgets after they gave huge

salary increases during the last period of “economic good times (2000?).” A good board

member should be able to learn something from that and not make the same mistake.

3. The board made it clear to a more qualified candidate that the salary offer was nonnegotiable

(more closely aligned with Mrs. Everett’s exit salary after 15+ years).

She’s not a Superintendent, she’s a Principal/Superintendent! Let’s talk facts.

1. Compared to EVERY elementary principal in Alameda County, she has the highest salary.

2. Compared to EVERY middle school principal in Alameda County, she has the highest salary.

3. Compared to EVERY high school principal in Alameda County (except for 1 or 2

districts), she has the highest salary.

4. She does have a lower salary than most of the full time Superintendents, but on a per site

basis, she has by far the highest Superintendent’s salary in the county when you factor in

how many sites she has to administer.

But the above comparisons are just as unfair as stating that her salary is lower than other area

Superintendents. She’s not a principal, she’s not a superintendent, she has an entirely different

job description…. She’s a principal/superintendent and a salary should be fairly determined

accordingly. What is reasonable? Her salary seems to increase at a much higher percentage rate

than the other employees. At what point does WELL-compensated become OVERcompensated?

On the exodus of teachers-

“Van Dyke, who noted that many of the school’s teachers had reached retirement age...” Valley

Times, Oct.6

I’m the only one who definitely, without question, was going to retire in June of 2010. Ms. Rad

left 4 years before her optimum retirement date.

Ms. Owen left mid-year, also before her optimum retirement date.

Ms. Chiprich left over a disagreement with the new P/S.

Ms. McCrary was ready to retire.

Ms. Pappas, Ms. Brazil, Ms. Dennis, Ms. Scotto, Ms. Underwood, Ms. Carpenter, Ms. Lum, and

Ms. MacDonald left for better paying districts.

Ms. Summa, Ms. Maier, Ms. Sawicki left because they were moving.

Ms. Butcher and Ms. Jowe were bullied and harassed into leaving.

Mr. Rice and Mr. Imler were not rehired.

Among others.

I wouldn’t characterize 2 out of 20 as “many.”

Again, there is nothing I can do to improve your school. I can’t change any of the above.

BUT YOU CAN! I strongly recommend Diane Everett and Gerry Beemiller for

the Sunol Glen School Board.

Phil Mumford, Sunol Glen Teacher 1978-2010