Davis

While the Davis Joint Unified School District Board of Education continues to lament the impact of limited state funding on education, and discusses alternative local funding mechanisms such as another parcel tax, its actions tend to be contrary to this position.

At its meeting on June 30, the board approved contract amendments and new contracts for two senior administrators, Kevin French and Clark Bryant. While teachers in the district were required to take a decrease in salary of 2.72 percent by virtue of furlough days, and teaching positions were eliminated, both measures designed to balance the district budget, French and Bryant both got annual salary raises of $11,900.

This was accomplished by the district paying them money for their health benefits coverage, something they did not have in their previous contracts.

As further sweeteners, the district gave them the option to buy their health benefits from the district and, per the contract, these monies will be considered as part of their Òcompensation/salary for purposes of the State Teachers Retirement System Defined Benefit PlanÉÓ

If this was their last year of employment, some people might view this as pension spiking, but the district did grant them new contracts for 2011 through 2013 that increase their annual base pay by 5 percent; therefore, they must be staying.

With regard to the 5 percent increase in 2011, does the district know something about the 2011 state budget that we donÕt know or are they counting on voters forgetting about this in 2011, and passing another parcel tax? If this is considered a budget-neutral activity, even though the district must now pay the CalSTRs tax on this amount, then it begs the question of why the board isnÕt offering this to the teachers, who could most definitely use an increase in their retirement, as they are not highly compensated.

French also was granted a $10,000 deferred compensation payment for Òadded administrative responsibilities during the transition in district leadership.Ó As there are no goals, objectives or other performance parameters required for this payment and it is in advance of the activities, it could to some be construed as a gift of public money, not a bonus for activities performed.

All in all, FrenchÕs compensation package increased from $142,000 in 2009 to $163,900 in 2010 Ñ not bad for a district having trouble balancing its budget.

Walter E. Sadler

Davis

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