District 220 freezes administrators' pay next year

Reacting to the uncertainty of both the amount and timing of further state funding this year, Barrington Unit District 220 board members Wednesday froze administrators' salaries for the 2010-2011 school year.

The special meeting was held at 7 a.m. Wednesday, before the official July 1 start of the coming fiscal and academic year.

Board President Brian Battle said serious questions remain about receipt of the minimum $1.5 million the state still owes the district this year, and the impact it could have in triggering future budget cuts.

"We're really flying blind," Battle said. "We don't know how our state funding is going to be affected."

While district teachers and the superintendent are on multiyear contracts, other administrators are not and provide more flexibility on year-by-year salary issues.

Nevertheless, a dialogue with administrators preceded Wednesday's vote to address issues raised by the pay freeze, Battle said.

"While no one is happy to see their salary frozen, there was an understanding on the part of the administration," Battle said.

Unlike teachers, administrators in the district are not represented by a union.

There was no way to estimate the cost savings generated by the freeze because of the many variables that could have gone into determining pay raises among administrators next year, Battle said.

"There is not a single line item that sums up administrators' salaries," he said. "There really isn't a way to put a cost savings on (the pay freeze), but it's a reaction to the fiscal reality we're seeing from the state."