Grayslake school board OKs pay increases

Grayslake Elementary District 46 administrators and other non-union employees will receive a 1 percent raise for the 2009-2010 academic year, despite some public feedback against such a move.

District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll said the raises are justified, considering there are fewer administrators and some are taking on two jobs. For example, Correll will continue as superintendent while working as director of student services.

Board members voted 5-2 in favor of the 1 percent pay increases at a meeting Wednesday night. One of the dissenters, Michael Carbone, said he was uncomfortable approving more money for the employees in a time when many private-sector workers are taking pay cuts.

However, District 46 board member Keith Surroz noted there will be $178,426 in budgeted savings in administration salaries for the next school year.

"I don't think we're going wild here," Surroz said. "We're trying to say, 'Thank you.' "

Some District 46 parents spoke against administrative pay increases before the vote.

Heather Lennartz said she doubts any District 46 administrators have performed so poorly that they don't deserve a raise. However, she said, the line must be held because of the economy.

"For those of us who have jobs, we don't get raises right now," Lennartz said.

Shannon Smigielski and Colleen Wade called for pay freezes or decreases. Smigielski also said administrative pay raises wouldn't be appropriate in the wake of staff cuts and increases in student fees paid by parents.

Administrative pay raises in the middle of a recession have been an issue at several suburban school districts this year.

In Gurnee, at Warren Township High School District 121, Superintendent Phil Sobocinski received a three-year contract with 6-percent annual raises. Sobocinski's base salary will go from $203,177 at the start of his new deal in the 2009-10 academic year to $228,290 when he retires in June 2012.

Warren's board majority also recently approved setting aside enough money that would provide 4-percent raises for principals, secretaries and employees other than teachers if the cash pool is split evenly. District 121 board member Richard Conley was the lone dissenter for all the raises, saying it's a poor message to send taxpayers right now.

Also in Gurnee, Woodland Elementary District 50's top administrators and managers agreed to salary freezes for the 2009-10 school year, citing declining revenue. Officials projected the pay freeze would save Woodland about $194,600.

Naperville-based Indian Prairie Unit District 204 board members granted one-year pay hikes for support staff union members and administrators. The administration salary raises will range from 1 percent to 3.87 percent.

Indian Prairie board member Christine Vickers pointed to the economy as the reason she was the lone dissenter on the raises.

Raises: Superintendent says increases justified because some administrators will take on two jobs