[dc]

Manheim Central School District has a new business manager and, apparently, someone forgot to inform some members of the school board. The announcement listing Kristee Reichard as business manager, a promotion from assistant business manager, was made on the district's Web site just prior to the Oct. 28 board meeting. "I truly don't remember that we ever voted on the approval for Kristee," board president Nancy Sarley said in a phone interview after the Oct. 28 board meeting. "Board members have looked through the minutes and can't find it. We don't know who did it and, yes, it is being questioned." The district now has a business manager and a chief financial officer, and Sarley said Manheim Central does not need both. Reichard was recognized at the Oct. 28 meeting for being granted status as a PA Registered School Business Administrator. After the meeting, board members Justin Wolgemuth and Joseph Jeckel said they don't remember approving the promotion for Reichard. In July, the school board reported that no qualified applicant could be found for the business manager position. The district rehired former business manager George Ioannidis at the June 24 meeting. He was installed in the newly created position of chief financial officer with a $20,000 pay increase. His salary is $125,000. In the minutes of the June 24 meeting, the business manager position was eliminated and replaced with the CFO position. The district's human resources director, Louis Martarano, confirmed Reichard was the business manager in a phone interview. Martarano said at the Aug. 26 board meeting a new structure of positions was adopted. The action moved Reichard from assistant business manager, eliminating that position, to business manager. With the board passage on Oct. 28 of wage reassessments, Reichard's salary will increase as a result of the title change, but Martarano said the remains to be determined. Ioannidis was rehired in an executive session held June 23 at the home of Superintendent Carol Saylor. The board may have violated the state Sunshine Act because it failed to inform the public about the executive session at the June 24 public meeting. The law requires board members to announce publicly the day of, or by the next scheduled public meeting, that they held an executive session and provide a reason for it. Martarano said Reichard was qualified for the business manger position, but she did not apply for it when Ioannidis left. Martarano said the position is not the same as it was when Ioannidis held the job, but he did not elaborate on what the differences are. Sarley said Reichard was part of the committee conducting the business manager search and one of the vocal opponents to the one candidate for the position. Sarley said the candidate holds an MBA degree and has a history of working for county and state government. She described the candidate as "one of the most intelligent people I ever met." She said, "I have some issues with it, some personal issues with it, some ethical issues with it. Do you get to hire your boss, that's my big issue." Martarano said the management structure of a business manager and CFO is employed in the School District of Lancaster with a nearly 12,000 students and Penn Manor School District with about 5,400 students. Manheim Central has fewer than 3,000 students.

[dc]

Here is another one that was in the paper.......


"The approval of a districtwide reassessment of all support and administrative staff salaries by the Manheim Central school board met with strong opposition Oct. 28 by board member Justin Wolgemuth. Wolgemuth protested by refusing to vote on the measure after the board convened a 30-minute executive session in an attempt to reach a consensus. At issue was the $100,000 impact on the 2008-09 budget. Wolgemuth made a motion for separate consideration of support and administrative staff salaries, but his effort was defeated. "When times are tough, I can't see spending more money. I can't support that," Wolgemuth said after the meeting. "It is our responsibility to take care of the community." Wolgemuth said he supported a voluntary salary freeze due to the economy and hardships the residents of Manheim are going through. He supported re-evaluation of support staff salaries, but not administrative. The teachers are under a separate contract, and they are considered the professional staff. Resident and business owner J.P. Perron spoke against the approval as well. "I find it disturbing that in the public sector we can give raises," Perron said. "Administratively, I think we are a little heavy. I find it disappointing. … I hope our taxes don't go up because of this. I think people are really struggling." Chief financial officer George Ioannidis said this is the first time in 10 years that the district has developed a compensation system. The district needs to make sure it pays competitive salaries so talent can be attracted and retained. Each position will be evaluated based on job description as well as the experience of the person holding the position. Job titles will change and salaries will increase in some cases and remain neutral in others, Ioannidis said. With a $40 million budget, Ioannidis said the impact of the salary increases is small. The changes will be put in place at the end of the month and will be retroactive to July 1. Although board member Kirk Radanovic supported the salary increases, he is not in favor of a potential tax increase. "I'm going to be the first one to call for a zero tax increase," Radanovic said. The district is allowed to raise taxes as much as 4.8 percent, Ioannidis said, without seeking exceptions or going to the electorate. "There is always a chance that we will raise taxes. At this stage of the game, there is an equal chance that there won't be," Ioannidis said. "At the end of the day it is (the board's) decision to make. Our job is to assess what programs are in place and how to pay for them." Ioannidis said the district made great strides in taxation in the last two years. At one point, the district had the second highest milage rate and now has the fourth lowest in spite of the construction costs for the middle school that occurred over the last three years. And, of the districts that raised taxes last year, Manheim Central had the lowest take increase. "I believe we've done the due diligence and (been) mindful of the impact we have on our taxpayers," Ioannidis said."

[ADGC-4]

Here is another one that was in the paper.......


"The approval of a districtwide reassessment of all support and administrative staff salaries by the Manheim Central school board met with strong opposition Oct. 28 by board member Justin Wolgemuth. Wolgemuth protested by refusing to vote on the measure after the board convened a 30-minute executive session in an attempt to reach a consensus. At issue was the $100,000 impact on the 2008-09 budget. Wolgemuth made a motion for separate consideration of support and administrative staff salaries, but his effort was defeated. "When times are tough, I can't see spending more money. I can't support that," Wolgemuth said after the meeting. "It is our responsibility to take care of the community." Wolgemuth said he supported a voluntary salary freeze due to the economy and hardships the residents of Manheim are going through. He supported re-evaluation of support staff salaries, but not administrative. The teachers are under a separate contract, and they are considered the professional staff. Resident and business owner J.P. Perron spoke against the approval as well. "I find it disturbing that in the public sector we can give raises," Perron said. "Administratively, I think we are a little heavy. I find it disappointing. … I hope our taxes don't go up because of this. I think people are really struggling." Chief financial officer George Ioannidis said this is the first time in 10 years that the district has developed a compensation system. The district needs to make sure it pays competitive salaries so talent can be attracted and retained. Each position will be evaluated based on job description as well as the experience of the person holding the position. Job titles will change and salaries will increase in some cases and remain neutral in others, Ioannidis said. With a $40 million budget, Ioannidis said the impact of the salary increases is small. The changes will be put in place at the end of the month and will be retroactive to July 1. Although board member Kirk Radanovic supported the salary increases, he is not in favor of a potential tax increase. "I'm going to be the first one to call for a zero tax increase," Radanovic said. The district is allowed to raise taxes as much as 4.8 percent, Ioannidis said, without seeking exceptions or going to the electorate. "There is always a chance that we will raise taxes. At this stage of the game, there is an equal chance that there won't be," Ioannidis said. "At the end of the day it is (the board's) decision to make. Our job is to assess what programs are in place and how to pay for them." Ioannidis said the district made great strides in taxation in the last two years. At one point, the district had the second highest milage rate and now has the fourth lowest in spite of the construction costs for the middle school that occurred over the last three years. And, of the districts that raised taxes last year, Manheim Central had the lowest take increase. "I believe we've done the due diligence and (been) mindful of the impact we have on our taxpayers," Ioannidis said."

Um, I am going to have to aggree with Mr. Perron who was quoted in the article listed. I cannot seem to understand the rationale behind the decision to do an "overhaul"/re-allignment of administrative salaries. In the midst of an economic downfall, we are all feeling the financial strain. while I understand that this district did not approve a tax increase, my concern is with the future. While other private and public businesses are forced to lay employees off, restrict overtime, withhold salary increases, here we have a public school system that increases admin. salaries yet again. hmmmm. There are more ways to retain hard working, dedicated staff. Perhaps those involved should dig a little deeper if they are having a difficult time retaining and attracting admin. staff. could it have been a good decision to increase admin. salaries?? In a safer economic situation, perhaps. But, was it the best decision? I don't think so. esp when the burden of responsibilty to pay those increases is essentially on the taxpayers. My concern is that the community may not see a tax increase next year, maybe they will, but rather 2-3 years from now the district will be backed into a corner and have no choice but to pass on a large tax increase simply because there is no other choice. I wonder too, if there seems to be funds(according to the article $100,000) that can support such an increase, I question how much of this $$ could have been used in the classrooms to help educate the children?I am sure the students and teachers would have appreciated that! I wonder when the last time the K-12 buildings receieved an increase in their annual budget??? Kudos to Mr. Wolgemuth for standing firm in what is best for the community. "The reason to do the right thing today, is tomorrow."

This post has been edited by ADGC-4: 12 November 2008 - 11:10 PM