After $2 million of budget cuts crowded classrooms this fall,
many parents and teachers are outraged that the Hollister School
District increased its superintendent’s pay and added two new
district jobs. However, district officials say the new salary and
expenses are necessary to keep the district running.
Hollister – After $2 million of budget cuts crowded classrooms this fall, many parents and teachers are outraged that the Hollister School District increased its superintendent’s pay and added two new district jobs. However, district officials say the new salary and expenses are necessary to keep the district running.
Hollister School District Superintendent Judy Barranti received a two percent pay raise this year and a cost of living increase, in addition to converting several benefits into cash that upped her salary over $16,000. Barranti, who was hired in July of 2002, previously received $123,000. Among the benefits added to her salary are a $4,500 car allowance and $12,000 tax shelter annuity – a non-taxable account like a 401k. With the benefits, Barranti now receives $139,500 annually.
But the district trustees who approved the change said the move was nothing unusual and Barranti’s position warranted the compensation. Barranti is the head administrator for the Hollister School District and its 6,000 students.
“This wasn’t just a gift from heaven,” said Alice Flores, a board member. “We did an analysis of comparable districts and saw that others were paying just as much, if not more.”
Barranti, who brought 20 years experience from public schools in Milipitas, said the details of her employment package were worked out when she accepted the job two years ago.
“When I came to Hollister, it was agreed that I would get a lower salary schedule in order to get health benefits (in cash) and other things,” she said, adding that she now utilizes the district’s health plan.
In addition to Barranti’s increase, the district has also spent an additional $160,000 on two new district positions, including a principal on special assignment job for former Gabilan Hills Principal Diane Campbell.
Teachers say they understand the superintendent’s high salary, but they are shouldering the brunt of recent budget cuts more than anyone. Teachers in the district have only received a 2 percent pay raise in the last three years and can only receive one-third of their health insurance premium as cash if they opt out of the district’s plan, according to lead negotiator for the teacher Steve Kain, who teaches at Marguerite Maze Middle School.
“Nothing is ever just given to us,” he said. “We have to fight for everything.”
Teachers now have bigger classes than ever before, according to Michal Cook, president of Hollister Elementary School Teachers’ Association (HESTA). She said kindergarten classes have 33 students this year and some fourth grade classes have as many as 40. Class sizes increased this fall after the district chose not to replace 18 teachers who retired.
“I think I speak for everyone when I say it’s disappointing for the superintendent to get a raise while the rest of us are told there isn’t enough money for library materials or even to make photocopies,” said Michelle McCoun, a teacher at Cerra Vista.
Parents are sharing their frustration. They hold fundraisers to generate revenue, but are still told to bring things like tissue paper and hand sanitizer to their children’s classrooms, making them feel like they are fighting an uphill battle.
“Kids’ classes are crowded, there are no electives at some of the middle schools, yet she can get a raise?” said Heather Skardoutos, who has two kids in the district. “It just seems so wrong to me.”
Flores said she sympathizes with both parents and teachers but thinks that blaming the superintendent and the rest of the administration is misguided.
“Instead of beating up on local people, they should be shaking the cages of their elected representatives,” she said. “They are the ones that got us in this state.”
She also said Barranti’s pay is similar to other superintendents in the area like San Benito High Schools Jean Burns Slater, who receives a $150,000 a year, and the Superintendent at the Gilroy Unified School District who earns about $135,000.
Others, like Brett McFadden, a legislative advocate for Association of California School Administrators, or ACSA, defend Barranti’s raise and say that in the private sector a person with similar experience and would command a much higher salary without all the stress of the job.
“They are criticized all the time and they serve at the will of the board where they can be removed with a majority vote without any cause,” he said.
Karina Ioffee covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or ki*****@fr***********.com
