As District 150 continues to struggle with their structural deficit, calls for cuts at the administration building have started coming up again. I thought it might help the discussion to have some hard numbers with which to work. So I requested some information on administrators and consultants from District 150 and would like to share the results with you and ask for your feedback.
Consultants
According to information obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, the district employs just four consultants:
| Consultant | Per Diem Rate |
|---|---|
| Dr. Cindy Fischer | $350.00 |
| Dr. Judy Helm | $500.00 |
| Mary Ann Randle | $315.83 |
| Dr. Thom Simpson | $476.44 |
As of February 23, 2009, District 150 had compensated Dr. Fischer $7,525 for 21.5 days and reimbursed her $3,161.92 in expenses. These expenses were not specified in the report. Total paid for September through November 2008 was $10,686.92.
Dr. Judy Helm, who has her own business called Best Practices, Inc., has been compensated $21,750 for 43.5 days between July 2008 and January 2009, and has been reimbursed $167.91 for expenses. Total compensation since July 2008 is $21,917.91.
Mary Ann Randle’s salary is paid for by two grants: “PAS” and “Prevention Initiative.” No further information was given regarding either grant. Since July 2008, she has been paid $17,054.95 for 54 days and has been reimbursed $1,743 in expenses. Total compensation since July 2008 is $18,797.95.
Dr. Thom Simpson, whose job is listed on the district’s website as “Strategic Planning,” has his compensation split up into a base per diem rate of $455.90 and a 4.5% ($20.54/day) contribution to his Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (non-certified state pension program). Since July 2008, he has been compensated $63,128.30 for 132.5 days, plus $2,000 for a “mentor stipend.”
That’s it for consultants. If they were to all be eliminated, it would come to $116,531.08 in cost between July 2008 and the present, which covers about 7 months. To extrapolate this out to an annual figure, it comes out to roughly $200,000.
Administration
The list of administration staff includes 123 employees at a total payroll of $9,312,462.41. This includes 35 principals, 13 assistant principals, and 7 deans.
Read the whole report (PDF file)
I found it interesting that school principals and assistant principals are some of the highest-paid administrators in District 150. Of the 23 employees making over $100,000 per year, 16 are principals or assistant principals. Other administrators making six figures are:
- Superintendent Ken Hinton ($202,389.98)
- Assistant Superintendent Cheryl Sanfilip ($135,927)
- Controller/Treasurer Guy Cahill ($130,889.98) — has since left D150, of course; this information was current as of February 23
- Associate Superintendent Herschel Hannah ($117,183)
- Human Resources director Tom Broderick ($110,472.24)
- Academic Officer Mary Davis ($110,000.08)
- Research/Testing/Assessment director Bryan Chumbley ($100,092)
- “Teaching and Learning” director Susan Grzanich ($100,000)
As I’ve pointed out before, District 150 used to have just one superintendent, and that was when enrollment was larger. It’s hard for me to understand why we need to pay three superintendents a combined total of $455,499.98 — nearly half a million dollars! — to do the same job now that enrollment is so low we’re closing schools right and left. In fairness, this amount has gone down since Dr. Fischer left (and was subsequently rehired as a consultant); we used to have four superintendents. Still, I don’t see the need to wait for all these positions to be eliminated through attrition.
Also, in looking up Susan Grzanich’s responsibilities (I was curious what the “Teaching and Learning” program was all about), I found my way to this web page, which shows that this program has a staff of eight people, only three of whom show up on the list of administrators I received (Grzanich of course, plus Kathy Burke [$88,755.83] and Trish Guinee [$93,557.07]). The other five people are all listed as having offices in the administration building, but are apparently not considered “administration,” despite titles such as “benchmark specialist” and “instructional restructuring advisor.” It makes you wonder just how many non-administrators are employed at District 150.
I would be interested in my readers’ thoughts on this information. My overall thought is this: there is some fat that can be trimmed from the administration side of the district’s operations. I don’t mean that to sound harsh; I honestly don’t want to see anyone lose their job, especially given the current economic downturn. But the sad fact is that jobs are going to be lost. The district is already talking about closing a high school, some elementary schools, and laying off no small number of teachers.
Given that fact, it’s hard to understand why we would nevertheless need to maintain the same number of highly-paid administrators to oversee that shrinking student and teacher base. I’m sure all these jobs have value, but cost-cutting/layoffs should start in the places that have the least student impact. I would suggest that assistant/associate superintendents arguably have the absolute least student impact.
Erik: I was on the way out the door–I meant to joke a little about Terry’s name–instead of correcting you. Someone a few weeks ago mentioned that Karrie Alms and Terry were separated at birth–and then you come up with a Perry Knapp. Just one letter–the same as people calling you Eric.
Erik (with a “k”),
Thanks for the hypothetical; you have to simplify things for those of us who are not financial experts. I appreciated your analogy.
I guess the crux of the matter is that your committee can only work with the numbers you are given by the district. If those numbers are contaminated/incorrect, your analysis will be, also. And that includes the data from the baseline fiscal model. GI=GO still applies.
Hey, people get my hubby’s name wrong and mine as well. That includes people who have known us for years.
Back to IHSA basketball watching…
still no takers… what are you afraid of?
Excuse me… can we address the elephant in the room please?
“I really want to know what you all think is ‘enough’ money?”
Perhaps I can rephrase it… How much is a living wage for teachers, superintendents, principals, janitors, secretaries, counselors, deans etc…?
no.
my wife is a certified high school biology/general science teacher, along with holding a type 75 certificate. she does not work for the district as she stays at home with our children. i have four kids, 8, 5, 4, and 1. Three are in D150 schools and the one year-old is a few years off. The plan, subject to change, is for her to stay home with the kids as long as possible and use local districts training programs to keep her certification up to date. We have no specific plan for her to work for the district.
If she does end up working for the district, it likely won’t be for another three to five years at least, and she would be evaluated for hire based on her credentials, which are solid.
erik
“I guess the crux of the matter is that your committee can only work with the numbers you are given by the district.”
We will primarily be working with audited numbers produced under generally accepted accounting practices for government and reported to the Illinois State Board of Education.
We also have the ability to call the district on numbers. I value my integrity and credibility and believe it in my and the community’s interest to vet as much as possible any fiscal statement prior to proceeding with a public discussion about it. I may get a wrong number from the district from time to time, and if I do, I’ll correct it.
Erik, Tell Perry I said hello! :laughing:
Erik,
I hope you don’t think I was impugning your integrity. Not at all! All I am saying is to make sure the numbers you are given to input into the model are accurate. I do not at this time question your integrity or credibility AT ALL.
I hope and trust that the numbers you/the committee use(s) are correct. As I’m sure you know, there is a lot of wiggle room in numbers when they (expenditures, projections, etc.) are not overseen.
BTW–Our first four sons were born within 6 years, with one tag-a-long four years later. Another boy. Been where you are! Thanks again for all your contributions. And for the family sacrifices you are making. I appreciate it.
If there is anthing I can do to help, please let me know. I think we both want the school district and the city to be successful in providing education to the children of Peoria without bankrupting the taxpayers.
http://www.amazon.com/Dumbing-Down-Curriculum-Compulsory-Schooling/dp/086571231X
Just started reading this. Pretty interesting.
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history1.htm
This is a terrific summary of our education system from John Gatto…
“#
# kcdad on 12 Mar 2009
“the way to keep good people is to pay them”
Why does this only apply to administrators, executives and other highly paid “support staff”?
Why is it when it comes to hands on employees, you demand commitment and excellence?
I say if those who want administrative positions don’t like their jobs for any reason other than the money they should make tracks, vamoose, absquatulate and skeedaddle.
I am real tired of this hackneyed worn out excuse that money is what brings quality.”
And here it is again…
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/business/15AIG.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
“Edward M. Liddy, the government-appointed chairman of A.I.G., argued that some bonuses were needed to keep the most skilled executives.”
kcdad said:
I looked at the link.
Kcdad, did you see anything ironic about the criticism on page 4 that schools have become “psychological laboratories where training in consumerism was the central pursuit,” followed by the sales pitch to buy Gatto’s book on page 10?
C.J.–great observation–quite an irony! TV is our greatest enticement to consumerism.
I suppose.
Do you think maybe there is a difference between advertising on that particular site to that type of consumer (a kind of: if you want to learn more) and the indoctrination we put our children through in schools?
I think you certainly had the critical skills necessary to recognize the difference. You weren’t forced to sit for 6 hours and look at that site and have 6 different teachers and textbooks tell you what to do, IF you wanted to get a passing grade.
Well, yes, there are differences in duration and compulsion. But the link you gave was still consumerism disguised as education. Are you saying the ends are okay? It’s just the means that are bad?
It is a book for sale. The author is selling a book ABOUT education.
It is not an education system selling its ideology to mandated attendees!
Did you want him to give you the book?
Tell me something in this country that isn’t consumer based? Do you have bake sales at your church?
And in case you missed it…
“All profits from book sales go toward one of the three major projects of The Odysseus Group, a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization dedicated to school reform.”
Sharon Crews asked “Just curious, Diane–was Wacky Wednesday the first time you began to see problems in 150? I have a feeling it may have been the straw that broke some backs.”
Yes, Sharon it was. I was aware of the compromised reputation of D150 prior to the Wacky Wed debacle, but thought some of it *might* be overblown. In reality, the criticisms of D150 did not run deep enough. As the shortened school day debate when down, I came to realize it’s depth of dysfunction, mismanagement, waste, and grotesque distortion of priorities. I came to realize how the District was largely structured so that those in Central Admin could sustain themselves and their friends whether it be through employment contracts, vendor contracts or “consulting” fees. If the students were served simultaneously so be it, but often they weren’t.
I came to realize the danger of “group think” on a board and learned that 3 people banding together with one idea can make or destroy an entire community. I learned that similar organizations that have central Admins in place will support the Pyramid because often their own organizations are structured the same way. I learned that the State level of an administration is often as corrupt as the local level. I learned that if parents of Peoria students as well as those that love and want to preserve Peoria do not take a powerful stand against this systemic and deep rooted greed and abuse this cycle will continue. Our schools rightfully belong to the children and families of Peoria. It is time we took them back and used them for the purpose they were designed – to serve children, not retirees.Aren’t you glad you asked?
Diane…. that was beautiful. I take back every bad thing I ever said about you to New Voice… (he’s a scum bag , anyway. He made me say those things)
Diane: I suspected that was the case–if so, I am thankful that Wacky Wednesdays awakened some (maybe many) to the problems in District 150. It is truly good to have you all out there to help keep watch on 150.
Sandy Farkash – former MHS principal, former Medicaid Director, former Director/Ass’t Sup’t of Special Ed – is running for Spangler’s BOE seat. As an aside, he also was very active with Boys & Girls Club. He and Hannah are also very close personal friends.
Aurthur Perkins is still with the district in some capacity and, together with Tim Delinski, will be managing the summer school program.
Otto Arcaute’s position has changed – whether he has the title or not, he is the Director of Title I and his office has moved to Ricketts to the Title I department. Questions could/should be raised as to whether he meets the requirements of the district’s position description and has the qualifications/certifications to hold the position as required by the State.
It almost appears that the district has a strict construction to the term, “consultants.” Perhaps different report results would have been obtained if the FOIA asked about “rehired retired administrators.”
There are many positions in the Administration Building that do not require a Type 75 certificate – think Operations staff. However, these individuals are classified as administrative personnel as opposed to administrators. It is a very fine distinction but one the administration uses.
Exactly!!!! Thank you Prairie Celt for shedding light on more deceit from District 150.
District 150 – 8th grade graduation. With all the other 150 issues, I hadn’t paid much attention to this one. How do all of you feel about the changes? I am a bit put out to find out that grandparents (or honorary grandparents, in my case) can’t attend 8th grade graduation at Washington Gifted. I hadn’t taken issue with the proposal for graduation to be an afternoon event, but I didn’t know they would be restricting the event to parents only. I think the only reason for the change was that some (probably very few) were hiring limos to take their 8th graders to graduation. Also, 150 didn’t want to send the message that 8th grade was a “final” milestone. Does anybody believe that canceling the usual graduation celebration will cut down on the dropout rate–or even on “over the top” celebrations. Again, 150 is always thinking up the wrong solutions for the real problems.
I may have been given inaccurate information–complaint on hold.
Confirmed: I was wrong–8th grade graduation attendance is not restricted.
In my opinion, 8th grade graduation meant something when 1/2 the people didn’t graduate from 8th grade… in 1940. Nowadays it is irrelevant and gives the wrong message that school is something to “get out of” instead of to want to be in.
In this climate we live in now, I am considering the idea that high school graduation may be becoming just as irrelevant. NOT that college is that great a benefit for those who go, but because a high school education is not much better than that 8th grade education was in 1940.
Kcdad: All that may be true–about irrelevance of graduation ceremonies. However, we tend to be a society that celebrates milestones. I see no harm in celebrating graduation from 8th grade. Yes, it is ridiculous for parents to pay for limos, etc. Even more ridiculous, I believe, are school dances (proms and homecoming dances sponsored and, therefore, condoned by schools) where girls spend over $200 for a dress to wear one time. For instance, District 150 thinks uniforms will keep young people who can’t afford expensive clothing from feeling uncomfortable. They certainly won’t feel comfortable at a school dance.
http://www.isbe.net/sfms/AdminCaps/regions/48.pdf
Admin costs, per pupil, from Illinois State Board of Education.
Re: admin costs/pupil
If you put the numbers linked to in the spreadsheet, you’ll find D150 is below the median in the area. Limestone and Peoria Heights are the highest.
This is from the state website and I thought you would find it interesting.
Oh gosh, my Marxism is sneaking out again…
Sharon; who benefits from these graduation extravaganzas? QUI BONO? The economy… its always about the economy! Blow your hard earned money on all this crap and paraphernalia that means nothing in the big picture… what do you students need?
A sense that education is an end itself… not a means to some other end.
Erik… at what point does marginal efficiencies and diminishing returns kick in? Comparing admin costs between a district with 12,000 students and one with 1000 is rather disingenuous, wouldn’t you agree?
How about comparing District 150 with lets say a Rockford, Bloomington or some other comparable district in size?
kcdad,
great question, couldn’t have posed it better. but, i put what i found up from the state’s website, so i’m not sure how it’s disingenuous since they establish the benchmark. i think it’s better to look at the comparable district “type” as shown on the link. i believe those are standardized across the state.
in one sense, i agree that the larger the district, the higher the opportunity for per widget efficiency because the base upon which to spread the cost is larger.
in another sense, i disagree because the assumption is demand is linear, from a policy perspective. in other words, it doesn’t take one admin per x number of kids to formulate curriculum implementation plans. one admin can generate that implementation plan whether it is applied to 300 or 3000 kids.
Bloomington is $287.76
Rockford is $155.37
Interesting. Apparently Ken Hinton makes more money as Superintendent than Bill Clinton made as PotUS.