More on payraises for MPUSD administrators

It's only fair that I post the letter the Monterey Bay Teachers Association wrote decrying the pay raises for MPUSD administrators, since I posted the one written by Board President Diane Creasey explaining why the raises were appropriate. Boy, the reaction has been strong. "It's not like the administrators did not deserve the raises, but right now? When people are doing more with less and not getting paid any more for it" seems to be tenor of the conversation.

Here's the letter:

I have been directed by Monterey Bay Teachers Association (MBTA) representative council to express to the public and the members of the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) Board of Education our concerns regarding an upcoming recommendation to approve a 6-step salary schedule for the District's top 5 management positions also known as the District Cabinet. These Consent Agenda Items (L-19 and L-20) are to be voted on at the April 18 school board meeting.

It has been said that perception is nine-tenths of reality. It is our concern as to how this action will be perceived and the impression it will make on both the employees and the community. We appreciate that recently the Board approved some of the one-time federal jobs funds to offset some of the increased costs in health care for all employees. We also appreciate that the board recently used some of the one-time Federal jobs funds to avoid employee lay-offs for the 2011-2012 school year. These, however, are one-time only monies for one-time commitments, whereas a salary increase for the district cabinet will be an ongoing expense of approximately $56,000 starting with the 2010-2011 school year. While that may not be much when compared with a $55,000,000 overall budget, our larger concern with the District Cabinet salary increase proposal has more to do with the message it will send to the employees and the community than it does with any actual cost involved. Simply put, it's not the money so much as it's the message and the timing.

Granted, there may never be a good time to propose a salary increase for public school administrators, but;
* At a time when one one can predict what the budget for public education will look like for the foreseeable future
* At a time when all employees are expected to take on one third more work because of one third less state funding
* At a time when the voters supported Measure P with the understanding that the District would direct any savings into the General Fund for use in the classrooms.
* And at a time when we are asking the public to support no more cuts to public education

We are concerned that taking this action now will be sending precisely the wrong message to the public at precisely the wrong time.

It is our hope that the School Board will consider the possible consequences that may occur and not approve this proposal at this time. We ask that the board take into consideration the long term ramifications this action may have on future labor/management relations. MBTA and MPUSD have made significant progress recently in working collaboratively on a variety of issues: Measure P, Secondary Instructional Schedules and Student Assessments to name but a few. We would hate to see the progress we have made together placed into jeopardy. Quite frankly, we are concerned that should the Board approve this proposal at this time, it will simultaneously increase resentment and lower morale for all but 5 of the district's employees.

I encourage the members of the MPUSD school board to take the time to speak with me or any of the teachers about our concerns prior to taking any action on this issue.

Yours truly,

Dennis Wright -- MBTA President.