Dist. 121 official: Superintendent's raise not out of line
Warren Township High School's board president says a newsletter to taxpayers will put in context the 6 percent annual raises and 200 extra sick days granted to Superintendent Phil Sobocinski as part of a new three-year contract.
John Anderson, the Gurnee-based Warren District 121 board leader, said he wants next newsletter also to provide information about what other suburban school superintendents are earning in comparison to Sobocinski.
"Our superintendent is paid less than a lot of superintendents in the state," Anderson said at a Warren board meeting Tuesday night.
Under the three-year deal approved last month by six of seven Warren board members, Sobocinski's base salary will rise to $203,177 at the beginning of his new deal in the 2009-10 academic year to $228,290 when he retires in June 2012.
Sobocinski also received 200 sick-leave days on top of whatever he hasn't used, a $500 monthly travel allowance, 20 days of paid yearly vacation and a $10,000 bonus if he stays at Warren until his retirement date and then obtains medical insurance elsewhere.
As part of the contract, Sobocinski may cash in any unused sick time on June 30 of each year.
Gurnee resident Allen O'Dette criticized Sobocinski's final deal at Tuesday evening's District 121 board meeting.
O'Dette called Sobocinski's 6 percent annual raises a "disgrace" in the middle of a recession and said all Warren employees should have their pay cut by 3 percent to save taxpayers' money.
"Are you people the tooth fairy, giving away the hard-earned money of the people of this community, many now unemployed, many underemployed, many not receiving raises at all or half of what you gave," O'Dette asked the District 121 board.
Board members didn't respond directly to O'Dette, per standard operating procedure during public comment time.
Later, Anderson said the information about Sobocinski's raises and on new construction projects will be in the Window to Warren newsletter.
Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Mary Perry Bates gained a four-year contract with 6 percent raises, starting at $147,489 and climbing to $175,662 when she retires in June 2013.