WPCNR Quill & Eyeshade. By John F. Bailey. May 15, 2008: Administrators  of the White Plains City School District  (Principals, House Administrators, Directors and academic Coordinators will receive  an average 5% increases in salaries for 2008-2009 with some receiving 13% or more in the new 2008-2009 school budget, coming to a vote this Tuesday, May 20, in White Plains.

Increases for the White Plains City School District Administrators  described in "The Big Yellow Book" pictured above, ranged from 2.6% to 15% in a year when the inflation rate as measured by the state was 2.8% according to the statement of property taxes and school budget comparisons being mailed to White Plains taxpayers this week. In the budget process, district budget crafters said the local New York Metropolitan area inflation rate was 3.3% according to the state.

The year to year increases for the salaried administrators makes up 11% ($444,553)  of the $4.2 Million  increase in salaries in the 2008-2009 budget.  Salaries of  all 1,200 plus employees and part-time employees make up  $100.1 Million of the $184.4 Million proposed budget. Fringe Benefits, another  $39 Million.  Negotiations with the White Plains Teachers are still continuing, but are expected to be settled within the salary  increase estimate plugged into the 2008-2009 Budget ($4.2 Million) – about 3.5% -- perhaps with some givebacks.

This is the first year the pattern of salary increases can be computed, because the 2007-2008 budget book was the first time salaries of district administrators was made public. Though  the laws of New York State have required such salary reports to be made by the district to the public since 1996, the year 2007-2008 was the first year the school district made them available. This new budget year, 2008-2009 is the second, enabling WPCNR to report the wage trends of the district.

Breaking down the Increases. Curriculum Coordinators Do Well but some do better than others.

The largest slice of payroll on the administrator level of the district are the  11 Curriculum Coordinators who are paid $1,6 Million of the $5.9 Administrative payroll.  

Going down the list, 8 of the 11 Coordinators received increases more then double the inflation rate:  8.8%, 10.5%, 9.7%, 12.1%, 5.6%, 2.7%, 12.9%, 6.5%, 9.5% and 2.7%.

The Coordinator of Mathematics gets the top salary increase of 12.9%, moving up to a $143,013 salary from the $126,628 earned currently. (It should be noted that some larger increases may be due to earning various degrees, and not merit related, however the “Yellow Book” does not make those distinctions.)

The Coordinator of Interscholastic Athletics will earn $149,502 in 2008-2009 (up 8.8% from $137,457 in the current year.); Coordinator, Physical Education & Health, up 10.5% from $135,265 to $149,502; the English Coordinator moves to $140,561 from $128,172, up 8.8%.

The Coordinator of the English Spanish Other Language program and Director of the Newcomer Center will earn $133,159, $14,352 more than this year’s $118,807 a very nice 12% increase.

Coordinator of Fine & Performing Arts receives a modest 5.6% increase to $149,502 from the $141,575 earned in 2007-2008; The Coordinator of Guidance remains the same at $139,293 (first year in the position.)

The Coordinator of Science salary increases 6.5% to $149,502, up from $140,358 in 07-08.

TheCoordinator of Social Studies receives a 9.5% increase to $149,502 from the $136.488 earned the current year.

The Coordinator of Technology receives the smallest increase, 2.7% to $149,502 from $145,584 in 2007-2008.

Six Directors of Programs Average $155,390 each

The Directors of Adult Education, New York Hospital (program), Special Education, Support Programs, Research, Testing & Evaluations and PreKindergarten average  $155,390 in salary each in 2008-2009.

The Director of Adult Education will earn $155,471 (up 5.7% from $147,025 in 2007-2008). The Director of the New York Hospital Program also will receive $155,471 (up 2.6% from $151,397), and the new Director of Special Education will earn $160,956  (down from $163,024 previously paid).

The Director of Support Programs will be paid $155,471 (receiving an increase of 2.6% from $151,397 this year. The Director of Research, Testing & Evaluation will receive $149,502, a 2.6% increase from $145,584 in 07-08, and the Director of PreKindergarten will make $155,471, a  6.9% raise over the 2007-2008 salary of $145,392.

Down to the schools

According to the School District “Yellow Book,” the Budget for 2008-2009, the average salary of the five Elementary School Principals will be $164,858, up from  $153,858 this year. Two Principals received salary increases of 5.2% (to $167,411), another 5.6% to $167,411, a third, 9% to $162,695 and the fourth, 7.2% to $164,077. 

 The five  Elementary Assistant Principals salary is an average $105,395. However two are paid $123,625, and the other three are paid $143,269 ,$136,458 , and $131,877 respectively. The total combined compensation of Elementary School Assistant Principals is up just $281 total from this year. The larger increases  in pay to Elementary Assistant Principals   in the range of 10% to 13.5% may be due mainly to promotions which automatically carry a larger than average increase.

Middle School & High School Patterns

At the Middle School, the two Principals will earn $177,793  and $167,411, respectively, up from $173,134 and $163,024 – (2.8 and 2.7% increases). The  four Middle School Assistant Principals average $155,502 in salaries, earning $137,684 (up 12% from $122,567); $167,411 (up 5.6% from $158,490); $149,502(up5.1% from $142,168) and $167,411(up 5.5% from $158,735).

In the High School, the Principal has received a  7.1% raise to $190,124 (up from $177,512 this year). The Assistant Principal has been given an 11.3% increase to $144,919 (up from $130,171 this year).

The four house administrators at the high school will average $147,523 in salaries. Three will be paid $149,502 each, the fourth, $141,588, and the raises respectively are 2.7%, 5.9%, 5.8%, and 8.7%. It should be noted that some of the higher raises may be because of promotion into the position, or academic recognitions.

Plus Benefits

The amounts of salary increases, do not include the fringe benefits these positions receive.

Cabinet Holds the Line

The Superintendent of Schools four Assistant Superintendents  receive modest increases of  $1,138 for the Assistant Superintendent for Business, bringing that position to $171,600 in salary; $498  for the Assistant for Curriculum & Instruction, moving that position up to $166,003; Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources receives $524 more bringing that salary to $174,856 and the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services receives a $496 increase to $165,296.

The Superintendent of Schools in the second year of a two-year contract moves from $231,719 in salary to $250,347 in salary, an 8% increase.

According to a Market Trends Survey in December 2007, nationally pay increases were expected to average 3.9% in 2008.

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