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News
One percent school wages hikes approved : News : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisOne percent school wages hikes approved
| Salary increases granted to district's non-union staff members
| by Lyle R. Rolfe
| 2/21/2013
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Oswego School District Board members approved one percent cost-of-living wage increases for the district's non-union staff members last week.
Finance Superintendent Dr. Paul O'Malley said the increase will affect 52 employees, including administrators, principals, assistant principals, deans, athletic directors, coordinators and managers who were employed by the district prior to July 1 of last year.
O'Malley said the raises will cost the district about $42,000 for the 2012-13 school year. The increases are retroactive to the July 1 starting date of the district's fiscal year.
O'Malley said the district has been working to cut costs and saved an estimated $700,000 during the past year.
"It was done by doing three things-strategically filling some vacant positions, hiring employees at different salary ranges and a reduction of some benefits," he said.
"We had two people working in technology--Dr. John Petzke, executive director of technology, and Allen Clasen, director of information services. They had similar duties and when Petzke left, we did not fill that position. We moved some of his duties over to Allen Clasen," he said, noting that this was an example of strategically filling a vacant position.
"This increased efficiencies and saved about $100,000 on a salary," he said adding that they did the same thing with another person in technology.
They also had a contractual service in Teaching and Learning that was not continued, saving $145,000 to $150,000, O'Malley said.
He explained that hiring people at different ranges means they now have higher expectations for new hires compared to the past.
"We're expecting a higher level of degrees and qualifications in our candidates. When we hired John Sparlin, (executive director for administrative services), we put an incentive in his contract that if he were to obtain his doctorate there would be an addition to his salary," he said.
O'Malley noted that Sharon Hassberger, who was hired as director of business services, has her CPA degree and has more exposure and experience than the previous person in the position and at little additional expense.
The reduction in benefits was the school board voting to have administrators start paying part of their own health insurance costs. They paid 10 percent last year and 20 percent this year, saving the district an estimated $230,000, O'Malley said.
He said they also saved money when Dr. Marsha Hollis retired last June as assistant superintendent for teaching and learning. Her position has still not been filled.
"When teachers retire in Illinois they are at higher salaries than individuals that are not retiring," he said.
O'Malley noted that Hollis' replacement will most likely be hired at a lower salary, depending what the board decides.
The field of replacements has been narrowed down to four women, Superintendent Dr. Matthew Wendt said at the last board meeting.
The district did not let any employees go, but the savings from all of the above items would be near the $700,000 figure, O'Malley said.
Negotiations are expected to start soon with the Oswego Custodians and Maintenance Association employees. Their contract expires on June 30.
In addition, most administrator contracts for 2013-14 will need board approval later this spring, O'Malley said.
After the wage increase was approved, Bill Walsh, board president, commended all district employees for their dedication.
"Their actions can be seen every day through the operation of schools, supporting students at extracurricular events, and driving change to improve our system," he said.
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