Salem School Committee members want 140 percent pay raise

salemnews.com ^ | 03/07/2011 | Matthew K. Roy

[massmike]

Faced with a budget for next year that the mayor has described as the most challenging in recent memory, School Committee members have taken steps to more than double their own pay.

School Committee member Brendan Walsh told the City Council's finance subcommittee last week that a pay increase was long overdue. The committee's current pay of $2,500 a year was set in 1989 and has not been adjusted since then, he said.

Walsh argued that the pay was not adequate given the heavy workload committee members shoulder and the substantial time investment they make. He also said the low wage prevents qualified candidates from seeking the elected office.

The council's Administration and Finance Committee was sympathetic to Walsh's plea and voted to make the School Committee's compensation 6 percent of the mayor's salary. Mayor Kim Driscoll earns $100,000 a year, which means members' pay would jump to $6,000 — an increase of 140 percent.

[Hodar]

The committee's current pay of $2,500 a year was set in 1989 and has not been adjusted since then, he said.

Being on the committee is not manditory - this is very 'part-time' work. If the rate of $2,500 is inadequate, I would suggest they resign and allow someone else to step forward and do the VOLUNTARY work, for the $2,500 pay rate.

[Red Badger]

This is what I don’t get about other states. Here in Florida, our school boards are separate from all county and city governments. They have their own taxing authority, separate from everyone else. They are like a separate government. Mayors, county commissioners, city councils have nothing to do with the schools and vice versa. ....

[massmike]

But.....but....but....”It’s for the CHILDREN!”

[oscar oscar oscar]

Agree to tie any pay to the success (or failure) of the school system and then we can talk.

[jim macomber]

As Gov. Christie said, “Well, you don’t have to do it then, do you?”

[raccoonradio]

>>Mayor Kim Driscoll earns $100,000 a year

And is one of the candidates the Dems might have running vs Brown

[oscar oscar oscar]

The same Scott Brown who has put himself before kids by not going after the pedophile who he says molested him? The same Scott Brown who voted for Romney(Obama)care? The same Scott Brown who voted for $550 million (annually) in new government agencies via finance reform? I’ll flip a coin, or better yet hopefully have a 3rd party candidate with a backbone.