On Wednesday, February 18, the South Milwaukee school board voted 5-2 in favor of the 2009-2010 budget recommendations made by the school district’s administration and as amended previously by the school board. Among the cost-saving items in the 2009-10 budget recommendations was a proposal to freeze the salaries of school district administrators for the 2009-10 budget year, which would result in a savings of $48,000 to the school district. As I’ve indicated before, I support freezing administrator salaries as a cost-saving measure during these tough economic times, but after this week’s school board meeting, I can’t help but wonder if some on the South Milwaukee school board don’t share my belief that cutting the budget from the top down is a better approach than cutting from the bottom up.
Two board members voted against approving the 2009-10 budget recommendations, and I’ve been told those members – John Haslam and Kay Lussier – voted against approving the budget because it contained a freeze on administrator salaries. Surprisingly, Dave Maass – who’s also expressed reservations about freezing administrator salaries – voted in favor of the budget, despite the budget containing a pay freeze for administrators. It’s been mentioned that a freeze on administrator salaries might inhibit the district’s ability to retain administrators, but given the fact that our district’s superintendent’s pay is equal to or better than a majority of his colleagues in southeastern Wisconsin’s suburbs, I find that argument to be fatally flawed. What’s more, I strongly believe that given the current economic climate, it only makes sense that our school district’s administrators should have to tighten their collective belts and work without a raise for the upcoming year. Now’s not the time to be giving raises to administrators, and given the fact that some of our district’s administrators have gotten very generous raises in the past two years, I’m willing to bet they’ll be able to make ends meet without getting a raise this year.
What’s more, if budget cuts are needed in the future, then I’d like to see those cuts come from the top and work their way down, instead of cuts that start at the bottom and work their way up. Cutting from the bottom up does a tremendous disservice to the children of the district, and while some would argue that cutting teachers isn’t as bad as some would think, I’d argue that teachers are where the rubber meets the road* when it comes to education, and if we continue to cut teacher positions, our children will ultimately suffer.
* Credit for the phrase “teachers are where the rubber meets the road” has to go to Dave Voeltner, a great candidate for MPS School Board.
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