CLEARFIELD – Although an $8,000 raise for the coordinator of transportation services sparked debate among the Clearfield Area School District Board of Directors, it still passed with a divided, 5-3, vote following a 45-minute executive session at a special meeting Monday night.
Board members Dave Glass, Tim Morgan, Phil Carr, Mary Anne Jackson and Susan Mikesell were all in favor. Board members Jennifer Wallace, Larry Putt and Dr. Michael Spencer cast the opposing votes. Board member Rick Schickling was absent.
Glass said that Shawny Bennett, coordinator of transportation services, was hired by the district in 2001 and appropriately placed as an Act 93 employee. However, she was not receiving the same salary increases as the other Act 93 employees in the district, he said.
“She never asked for it. She has been given raises but not (in the appropriate amount),” he said. “. . . This is the district’s position. We had to right a wrong. It’s a unique situation.”
On the contrary, Wallace didn’t believe the district was being fiscally responsible and said they weren’t in position to award any employee a raise in that amount. She said that it was “an abomination” for anyone to even think so.
Putt agreed, adding “I don’t think we can justify that large of an increase. I understand that she does a great job, but I just don’t think that it can be justified.”
When asked by members of the press, Spencer declined to comment on his reasons for voting against Bennett’s salary increase.
Bennett is set to make $39,000 in 2010-11 under the employment terms of the Act 93 agreement.
The board also voted unanimously for the following salary increases to other non-bargaining unit personnel.
- The salary of the head custodian/high school was increased by 75 cents per hour. Head custodians of both the middle school and Clearfield Elementary School received an increase of 55 cents per hour. All three increases are effective through 2012-13.
- The salary of the cafeteria managers at the high and middle schools and CES was increased by 55 cents per hour. All three increases are effective through 2012-13.
- The salary of the network administrator and two listed technical specialists was increased by 45 cents per hour. All three increases are effective through 2013-14.
- The salary of the administrative assistant to the superintendent and the payroll specialist was increased by 40 cents per hour through 2011-12. Both will be increased by 50 cents for 2012-13 through 2013-14.
- The salary of computer lab aide Rachael Pittman was increased to $11.25 per hour, which is an 85-cent hourly raise. Pittman has 1.1 years of service in her current position.
Interim Superintendent Dr. J. Thomas Frantz said the district wanted to make the “one-time adjustment” to the computer lab aides’ salaries. He said that computer lab aide Chris Wingate had one-quarter year of service and also currently makes $11.25 per hour. He said they wanted to balance out the pay of the two aides with their experience.
