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Teacher tempers rise over raise

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Exeter Elem. Teachers Association upset over administrator's raise

Exeter teachers were upset last week when they learned that a district administrator received a 6% raise while many of them work in fear of pink slips, endure growing class sizes and take on the responsibilities of recently vacated positions.

At both district's board meetings held last month, board members approved a 6% raise for Deputy Superintendent Diane Graziani-Orton. The new contracts were approved by the Exeter Union High School Board on Wednesday, Aug. 18 and by the Exeter Union (Elementary) Board on Tuesday, Aug. 24. The raise gave way to angst about other district administrative salaries.

Exeter Elementary Teachers Association (EETA) President Kevin Lurz responded with sending a copy of a letter about the increase to Exeter Public School Superintendent Renee Whitson. The letter said that several district teachers were let go as part of a reduction in force including a Wilson RE. teacher and coach at the end of the last school year.

The letter also stated that various teacher positions were not filled after several teachers retired last year, custodial services have declined and teachers have had to pay for "basic classroom essentials" after their classroom budgets were reduced.

"Teachers at the Exeter Elementary District have received no increase in pay or increase in benefits for the last three years," said Lurz in the letter. "This includes no cost-of-living adjustments. Teachers have worked to cost-contain their benefit packages by choosing downgraded insurance packages to save the district money."

Exeter Superintendent Renee Whitson said the raise was given after the district restructured the former Human Resources position and gave those duties to Graziani-Orton. Whitson also said the district will save an annual $11,025.35 by the restructuring move.

As of July 1, 2009 Graziani-Orton made $130,157, but had to pay her own Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) dues. As of July 1, 2010 she was paid $139,762, a 7.3% raise, which includes 6% to take over human resource duties and 1.38% cost of living increase for specific district employees "who have not received any kind of salary increase over the last two years."

The employment agreement also said that the district will now pay Graziani-Orton's ACSA dues.

The employment agreement said the Deputy Superintendent shall work for 225 days during the fiscal year and will not receive any paid vacation leave or overtime pay.

In addition to Graziani-Orton's raise, the EETA is also upset over other administrative salaries such as Whit-son's. Whitson said she has not received a raise since the 2007-2008 school year. As of July 1, 2007 Whitson was paid $171,480 a year including health and welfare benefits and was responsible for paying her own ACSA dues. As of July 1, 2010 she still makes $171,480 salary including health and welfare benefits. But the district now pays her ACSA dues. Whitson's employment agreement said that she also receives $125 a month for "business related use of her personal cell phone."

Lurz said in an interview that Whitson's salary is comparable to larger districts like Visalia or Porterville even though Whitson only oversees "five small schools." According to 2010 Tulare County Schools Directory, Exeter Public Schools boasts an estimated average daily attendance of almost 3,000 students.

As of July 1, 2009 Chief Business Official Dawn Ricco-boni made $ 116,400 and had to pay her own CASBO dues. As of July 1, 2010 she still makes $116,400 but the district now pays her CASBO dues.

"As EETA president I understand difficult economic times mean that teachers will not receive increase in pay and benefits, especially if cost cutting directly maintains student services in the classroom," said Lurz in the letter. "We were led to believe during our contract negotiations that the district, as a whole, was committed to making the hard choices and personal sacrifices in order to maintain student services." Lurz continued, "We even agreed to increase the school day in order to better serve our kids. In light of this new administrative contract, we feel our district leaders in the Exeter school system are not living up to the promise of making schools better in this difficult economic situation."

The next meeting for the Exeter Union High School Board is at 5 p.m. Sept. 15 and the next meeting for the Exeter Union School District Board is 5 p.m. Sept. 28. For up to date agenda and meeting time information visit www.exeterpublic-schools.org.



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© 2011 The Foothills Sun-Gazette Exeter, California. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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