Mitrovich gets $25,000 bump entering final year of contract

Naperville Unit District 203 school board members are defending their approval of a 12 percent increase in Superintendent Mark Mitrovich’s salary and benefits.

In addition to increasing his base pay from $203,000 to $228,000 as he enters the third and final year of his contract, the board gave Mitrovich a 5 percent performance bonus.

Mitrovich declined the 5 percent bonus last year in solidarity with district administrators whose wages also were frozen.

Including health insurance and retirement benefits, Mitrovich will cost the district $254,106 next year, up from $226,244. Still, board members say that only puts Mitrovich in the midrange of 65 peer districts across the state.

Thomas Engler, superintendent of the 5,112-student Yorkville Unit District 115 tops the list at $350,154. Mitrovich, who heads the state’s fifth-largest district, had been last on the list.

Board President Mike Jaensch said the decision to boost Mitrovich’s pay is “long overdue.”

“Going into this year, his base was so far behind everyone else already and then they all got raises,” Jaensch said. “We don’t want to lose him. But if we do, how do we compete for a new superintendent if we’re that far behind our competitors? We needed to get back in ballpark.”

Board member Dave Weeks, typically an outspoken opponent of increased spending, called the increase a “very wise business decision.”

“He got no raise last year. We gave him a $25,000 raise and if you amortize that over the three years of his contract, it’s not a huge, huge raise,” Weeks said. “But the big deal is he’s in his last year of the contract. I don’t think he’s going anywhere but he’s 65 now. He’s not going to be here forever and if we’re not paying a competitive salary we’re not going to attract the best talent out there. This is getting ourselves in position to do that.”

Jaensch said he doesn’t believe the district is ready to search for a new leader.

“I look at the cost and disruption that come with searching for a new superintendent and I believe those costs would eat up his increase,” he said. “I prefer not to go through that for the wrong reason and grossly underpaying the man would be a wrong reason.”

Jaensch said there have not yet been any conversations regarding extending Mitrovich’s contract. And he doesn’t think the raise will open those talks.

“It doesn’t open those discussions but I anticipate it will make them much easier when they do begin because we’re starting in the ballpark,” Jaensch said Friday.

Mitrovich could not immediately be reached for comment.

The board also approved a pay increase for administrative staff. The 83 employees covered include principals, assistant principals, deans and special education supervisors will receive raises that average roughly 2.8 percent.

Weeks said the increase was a result of a recent study that showed not all district administrators were within 2 percent to 5 percent above or below salary ranges at other districts.

Weeks said the disparities in salary meant a teacher in one building might be earning more than a principal in a different building. Such inequities made it hard to recruit from within and also made staff members attractive to other districts or companies.

Board member Susan Crotty approved the Mitrovich increase but was the lone board member to vote against the staff raises.

“Mark is an incredible visionary and a great leader,” Crotty said. “And I very much appreciate the work our administrative staff does every day, but we need to hold the line.”