By a 4-1 vote the School District166 school board approved a three-year contract for Superintendent Beth Schwarz at its February 20 meeting. The meeting was packed with elementary, middle school and high school teachers.
The contract also reinstated days she lost in last year’s one-year contract due to budget cutbacks. Her new contract calls for her to be paid $102,916 for 2013-14; $104,974.13 for 2014-15 and $107,03.62 for 2015-16.
The District is also paying $18,000 each year for health care insurance.
Schwarz will be required to work 260 days per year and can earn 15 days of vacation time per year and will be granted nine paid holidays each contract year. Each month Schwarz can earn 1.25 days of sick leave and can accumulate up to 120 sick days pay, but can only be paid a maximum of 45 sick days if she leaves her position or retires.
This past year Schwarz has been paid $95,000 and also oversaw the Community Education program. She will no longer be required to perform Community Education duties under her new contract.
In 2011-2012 the school board agreed to a one-year deal with Schwarz after the board received a no-confidence letter from the Cook County Education Association. At that time Schwarz agreed that the relationship between her and the teachers had to improve or she would resign.
Before the meeting, high school history teacher Mitch Dorr asked to read a letter from the teachers. The board allows 15 minutes for the public to give its input on an agenda item before each meeting and Dorr spoke during this time.
“It is our great honor to be educators of the fantastic students at Cook County Schools.
“With this honor comes a great responsibility to communicate with you our thoughts and feelings on matters important to our district.
“As additions and changes are being proposed to our district administrative structure, we as the Cook County Education Association wonder if together we have yet explored all options. For instance, we understand that an assistant principal position might be created. Just as important to consider might be other alignments that could put people in positions where they will best succeed and add to the value of education here at Cook County Schools.
“As teachers, we respectfully ask that our board of education consider other alternatives in administrative structure and hold off on any current decisions or commitments regarding administrators until together we have pursued all possible scenarios. Please let us know how we may help in this process.
“Thank you for considering our request and our offer. We understand and respect the responsibility you have to our district’s children,” read Dorr.
When the board got to the agenda item calling for the approval of the superintendent’s contract, each member spoke about the good job that Schwarz has done and the need to keep her for three years.
Only School Board Chair Jeanne Anderson asked that instead of a three-year contract Schwarz be offered a two-year contract. Anderson said that because of all of the restructuring that was going to take place over the next couple of years, a two-year contract was long enough to grant Schwarz at this time. She voted no when the question was called and Ed Bolstad, Sissy Lunde, Deb White and Mary Sanders voted for the new 3-year contract.
“I approve of the superintendent’s contract,” said Ed Bolstad. “The county has been very confused about you [Beth]. We need clarity and to define who the boss is. We need to establish a line of authority. We should add back the days that were taken and clear the air. I’m very comfortable with what I’ve seen from the superintendent.”
White started by saying she appreciated the hard work of the staff, but said that during the last year, “I was often at times at a loss to see where the professionalism exists. Change it, accept it or leave the situation, but restructuring has to go on.”
White praised Schwarz for being a good listener and said she has done a fairly good job of keeping the district “out of the red” during tough economic times and declining student enrollment. White added, “We have to have someone who shows a real concern for the students. Grand Portage trusts this superintendent. There are still some needs that are not being met [for Grand Portage students], but she has done more than any other superintendent for these kids.”
To the teachers in the audience, White said, “In the chain of command your leader is your principal. Beth is responsible for the oversight of the district. Restructuring has to go on. I’m in favor of giving Beth a threeyear contract.”
Lunde concurred, “I’m in agreement with giving Beth a three-year contract. It offers stability and vision for the staff, parents and the kids. One of our goals is the culture needs to change and it starts with everyone, Beth at the top. We ask that you support Beth. It’s not going to be easy.”
Anderson said she appreciated the offer from the staff to collaborate. She said, “We want to be able to trust each other as much as we can. All of the staff and administrators put in 100 percent effort and I appreciate what everyone does. My concern is that we are in a time of major change. We have a lot of opportunities and our major need is who can help us come together to meet our goals.
“No disrespect, Beth has endured many things I couldn’t. Is she always right? No. But I can go in her room and have some difficult discussions. As far as budgeting, I think Beth has done a great job. But a contract is binding and ties our hands. At this time I would feel more comfortable with a two-year contract,” Anderson reiterated.
Sanders concurred with most of what her fellow board members stated: “My colleagues have spoken eloquently and I agree with them.”
In other business:
. Kristy Cramblet (CCHS class of 1974) was approved to be a long-term substitute for the Health and Physical Education departments while Pam Taylor undergoes treatment for cancer. Best of luck to Pam.
. Schwarz recommended keeping a fund balance minimum of 20 days for the school district beginning June 30, 2014. This would give the district $596,620 in a “rainy day” fund. This year the district operated with a fund balance minimum of 35 days and set aside $1,058,309. The goal of the district is to maintain an unreserved general operating fund balance of not less than 45 days and not more than 75 days of the general fund/undesignated expenditures. Due to budget shortfalls the district isn’t currently able to keep a 45-day minimum fund balance. Schwarz said it was important to keep enough money available to fund two classes of K-2, where studies have shown that small class sizes return the best results for kids as they begin their education. The board passed the motion unanimously.
. Schwarz presented the board with a preliminary budget that called for a 2 percent pay increase across the board for staff and administration.
Her proposal called for the reduction of a full-time 6th grade teacher and the reduction of a secondary level faculty member from full-time to half-time.
Schwarz said there is a projected decrease of $160,541 in funding due to declining enrollment and a $40,000 increase from a new state funding formula that would help offset the decrease. Schwarz said two teachers have given indication that they would retire at the end of the year, and maybe a third teacher would also be leaving.
Additions to the budget include hiring a K-2 teacher, allocating $100,000 for technology, $20,000 for bus lease, $55,000 for additional administration and four items totaling $295,000 (roof, lockers, phone system and ARMER-capable radios) that are infrequent expenses. She also said there is a projected $22,000 in utility savings due to the loss of heating and cleaning space that will soon be occupied by the Cook County Family YMCA.
The proposed budget for 2013-2014 is $5,577,095, a 16.5 percent reduction from the 2007-08 budget of $6,681,324.
Superintendent Schwarz said the district now has 12.4 students per teacher and the statewide average is above 15 students per teacher. “As we realign our budget we need to realize that reductions are driven by enrollment and not pit groups against each other,” said Schwarz. Enrollment is again projected to fall from the current 458 students to 431 next year, but Schwarz said it looks like enrollment it is leveling off for the next several years after that.
The school board will vote on the 2013-2014 budget at its next meeting.
Leave a Reply