The Morning Call also has an article on the meeting, but it sheds no more light on the changes at the HS (read it here), while it does indicate an issue with the baseball team and field agreement with the borough.
I have to admit I was in rush this morning to catch a bus, but I did notice, having returned home, that neither article indicated that the new assistant principal was filling a spot vacated by another administrator, which leads one to believe this is a new position.
I also have to admit being a bit sticker shocked by the salary for the AD. Prior to 2000, the AD was a teacher who received salary plus a stipend, taught half day and spent the balance on athletics. Then they hired me, and I'll admit it was a great learning experience, but not the best working situation, nor salary. I received $35,000, give or take, to do busing, athletics, and facility scheduling. In my second year we added a ticket manager, but there were no event managers.
When my position was eliminated in 2000 (and don't get me wrong - everything happens for a reason as I love my current work and employer, not to mention compensation), the NASD went back to a teacher who was paid a salary plus a stipend for the AD position. Now it seems we have created a full time AD, at $68,000, with a ticket manager and game managers to assist.
You can't hold anything against the individuals hired to fill these positions (and yes I've known these two what seems like my entire life), but you do have to wonder how sincere the board and admin concerns are related to spending if these are in fact a new position and a new job description (full-time vs. part-time) resulting in more salary and benefit costs.
14 comments:
Can you please clarify what "AD" stands for? Thanks
Sorry, Athletic Director.
The PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) is the governing body for sanctioned sports for PA based schools.
The PIAA holds the principal as the responsible individual for their schools' athletics and the Athletic Director typically reports to the principal and manages the day to day activities (paperwork, coaches, scheduling, and conducting the events).
At Nazareth the AD is responsible for both the HS and the MS (grades 7-12 are covered by the PIAA, earlier than that are through community leagues).
I am not entirely shocked by the salary. An events coordinator (which this position essentially is) in the corporate world pays a bit more than this.
And to compare salary now with what the salary was almost ten years ago is not putting it on equal footing. If you adjust for inflation and cost of living, my guess is it is not far removed from what you were earning while in the AD position.
My guess is that this salary is probably in line with most of the surrounding districts, and to get someone to fill the position, you have to offer a competitive salary.
Now, the argument that whether this should be a stand alone position is valid. We seem to have a lot of "administrative" positions that make me wonder why. Case in point is the Transportation Director. In reality, transportation is handled by Jennings with the district administrator really being just a go between. Do we need a full time person for that?
In a time when they district is talking about double digit tax increases, they should start exercising fiscal responsibility and stop spending like a drunkend sailor on leave.
Wouldn't disagree with most of what you say. Tenure, experience, etc., will all factor in, but it
is really tough to compare school salaries with private sector because the benefits are so different.
My base point was in tight times adding positions or reducing responsibilities for positions is not often the case.
Bob Holland began as teaching one block, having one block for prep, and the other two he served as AD as I recall. That may have changed, but if it was the case you not only need to account for the full salary, but the new teacher that has to take over those responsibilities.
In the corporate world when money gets tight, extras get cut, then travel & training, and then people (maybe not in that order, but those seem to be the big three ways to save).
And to emphasize, this isn't about the individuals being 'worth' these amounts, it was only an observation related to the positions.
I think the more alarming trend here is the rate at which nazareth natives are being hired and promoted through the ranks -- qualified or not.
In the pre-Lesky era (Brackbill and Jenkins) some of these individuals were not even considered for hire because they were beneath the rather high employment standard that existed in those regimes.
Now, it appears all you need is a resume with a NAHS degree and a pulse to not only get hired, but promoted.
It is really a shame.
good ole boy...it's unfortunately that way in other districts too. People who've been in one capacity or another (with experience, talent, & knowledge) are being overlooked and someone new is brought in who pushes concepts and ideas which do not fit into our research based-direct instruction- driven curriculum. Many of the ideas they are pushing are old, outdated and basically irrelevant to the needs of our population. Sometimes it's not what you know, but who you know-shame, shame.
I agree with good ole boy, we cannot be sure the district is hiring the most qualified people to fill current positions. They are hiring those that will just agree with whatever administration wants. I cannot understand how they can “appoint” people to positions within the district. I thought all positions had to be posted and candidates interviewed.
How is the school board sure that the people who they “appointed” to positions are the best qualified for the job? (certainly not from their previous experience). I would think that if you have an open position, they should conduct interviews, and then you have a better chance of hiring a qualified person. Hiring someone who is a NAHS graduate and current teacher may not be the best choice without exploring a search for those who may apply inside/outside of the district.
I think administration knows that if they do not hire another “puppet” who will go along with everything they say and want to do, then they will have to find a way to “dissolve” the position.
I don't think you can say a person is or isn't qualified based on geography.
Ten years ago the argument was the opposite - if Nazareth's academics are so good why can't anyone from Nazareth get hired to teach here?
So they go with their own and now get complaints for playing favorites.
We need to hire good people, but the bigger issue is did we create new positions, make annual operating more costly, and is their an unaddressed, underlying reason why twice the number of staff left than anticipated?
I've mentioned it previously, I think one of the biggest problems we have is a seemingly constant administrative turnover. Each new person comes in wanting to do thing their own way and the teachers spend more time figuring out the new system and policies than they do preparing for their classes.
I heard a comment over and over that NASD looks after their own. I think more are moved into new positions that are not ever posted and not the best person for the position. When the position is posted they already have there choice person already picked. And without letting outsiders in to interview they would never know there are others who are better qualified. It is a very closed door district and to get employed you need to be a yes yes person who will bend at their will.
Had these positions been posted internally so other teachers and adm could apply? or were they hand selected?
How would someone or group gain access to being able to utilize a gym, or stadium field when school teams are not using them, so our youth athletes and taxpayers could use them? Would the AD be responsible for this?
Well it is definitely evident from all I heard that Nazareth takes care of their own. As a district employee, I had heard there were somehwere in the ballpark of 17 applications for the position. There would have been more, but the position was never posted on the district bulletin board outside the administrative offices, nor was it posted in our paychecks like all other openings, nor was it posted on the faculty bulletin board. That would lead me to believe they (the nazareth administrative network club) already had their sights on who they wanted in the position. The rumor was that some of the outside candidates already had some AD experience, but only Madson and Amato received interviews. Neither of which have any AD experience. Whoever said that the district wants "puppets" is exactly right. It seems like the worse you do in the classroom the more likely you are to be promoted, but only if you are from Nazareth.
I know there are several new school board members and I sincerely hope they begin to look into the district's hiring practices more closely. Many good teachers are choosing to leave the district becasue they cannot receive a fair shake when it comes to promotions. Defintely a very discouraging sign.....
Clearly appears the head of the district is looking out for the best interest of the "whose who" on their friend's buddy list. Seems to always be a common thread connection such as wrestling that binds them to achieve the higher paying positions. It is all about who you know and not the experience you are know for.
The wrestling tie is very strong; the middle and high school hiring’s within the last 18 months were people who officiate wrestling together. I wonder if they were really the best candidates for their administrative jobs.
If this district is in need of filling administrative positions (which I do not think we need to add anymore), fill them with quality and experience. What do the new appointees have in experience as AD and Assistant Principal? Furthermore, the elementary appointee has no elementary experience. Then again, what experience did the New Assistant Superintendent and Transportation Coordinator bring to their new positions? There are too many back door deals around this district.
No experience leads to poor decision making, they do not know any better, because they have never done it before! There will be countless and costly examples in the months and years that follow because of these deals that the school board is approving.
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