The school board was split on personnel changes at the Feb. 23 meeting.
At issue was a salary increase for John Lucido, executive director of human resources, from $97,400 to $104,847.84, as well as Lori Banaszak, technology integration specialist, from $41,317.50 to $51,371.
“I’m a little concerned about these positions put on here as an action item,” said board Vice President Susan Boatman. “This is premature ? we’re looking at the big picture now, on how to compensate nonunion employees.”
Part of that discussion is whether nonunion employees should receive union-like step pay increases, she said.
“This is not personal ? I think John is doing a great job,” Boatman said. “But I don’t see where we have to pay a certain amount to someone new to district ? this is a big raise.”
The changes are “position alignments” as directed by the superintendent, said Shawn Ryan, deputy superintendent.
“I don’t consider this a raise per se,” Ryan said. “It puts it on the same scale as comparable administrative positions.”
Superintendent Dr. Rod Rock said the raise for Lucido, who was hired last school year, is appropriate.
“When he was hired, we looked at his goals for the year 2014-2015, then we would make adjustments accordingly,” Rock said. “That’s what we’re doing at this time.”
The increase is needed to make Clarkston competitive, said board President Steve Hyer.
“We’ve had four human resources directors in the last four or five years in this district ? I don’t want to make it five in another year,” Hyer said. “It’s important to make it competitive at least within this district, let alone other districts.”
Hyer and trustees Elizabeth Egan, Kelli Horst, and Cheryl McGinnis voted in favor of the changes. Boatman, Patterson, and board Secretary Craig Hamilton voted against.
“I don’t think this is financially responsible right now,” Hamilton said. “I don’t like how this was brought up. We need to have a process ? not just for a select few.”
Patterson said she was concerned with the impact of the decision on other non-union employees.
“They all deserve raises, but we only have so much money,” she said.
Banaszak’s promotion to full time technology integration specialist was a Staffing Priority One item in the establishment of a Department of Instructional Technology, as recommended by Convergent Technology Partners in its Technology Analysis Report, Feb. 9.
The personnel-changes action item also made the administrator of technology position permanent. The $80,000 position, held by Angela Harrison, was previously interim.
All the changes are budgeted, Ryan said.
“We have the capacity in the overall budget ? I guarantee we won’t go over budget to accomplish this,” he said.