Electorate approves School Board salaries

PLYMOUTH – The electorate of the School District authorized School-Board members’ salaries for 2009-10, at the Sept. 15 annual meeting.

However, preceding the vote, there was considerable discussion and two additional motions suggested in addition to that appearing on the agenda.

The salary schedule approved is as follows: . $800 for 12 monthly meetings. . $25 per meeting for each additional meeting. . $50 daily stipend when traveling outside the district and

. $100 for members of the negotiations committee.

Earlier in the meeting, Superintendent Clark Reinke informed those present and those viewing the meeting on TV that last year, several board members donated their salaries back to the district and volunteered their services as board members.

Tim Melis, member of the electorate, made a motion that board members not receive any compensation. “I mean no disrespect,” Melis said. “I appreciate all that board members do. But I think a lot of this is volunteer work.

“And I feel that in the sentiment that we are all in this [tough economic time] together, there should be a level of sacrifice,” he said.

Another local taxpayer disagreed with Melis and said he felt that each board member should decide on his or her own whether to accept the compensation offered or to donate it back to the district.

One man said, “People don’t know how many hours school board members work. This is totally a huge commitment.”

Mary Fellenz pointed out, “School Board members are elected. They are not volunteers. They have an important and strong role to play. They need to be paid. This is an elected office.”

Still another local taxpayer added that some board members from other school districts are highly compensated, while those from others receive no pay for their services.

One taxpayer, adding up the total salaries paid to all Plymouth School Board members throughout the year, said, “Twelve-thousand dollars won’t break the budget. Let it up to each board member. This is like a token.”

Jim Carlson pointed out that the focus of the motion presented was about whether the community wants to pay the money – whether the electorate feels board members deserve the stipend.

Board member Sally Isely said that when she ran for the board, she was unaware that board members were paid.

“Then I realized the hours and hours and hours we put in – reading, researching and spending time on the phone,” she said. “But, I would take a freeze in pay, like the District Leadership Team did.”

“I don’t believe any of us perform these roles because of the compensation,” Board President Mark Rhyan said. “I believe we should lead by example.

“The financial affairs of this country are a mess,” he added. “This sends a signal that we understand and put in our time without the need for compensation.”

Board member Tim St. Clair said that in comparing the compensation Plymouth School Board members receive, it is lower than that of most other surrounding districts.

“But Kohler School Board members are not compensated at all,” St. Clair said.

He added that his on-the-job health insurance carrier was changed and that his premiums are now much higher. In addition, his wife has an illness.

“When I ran for the board, I was not interested in the salary,” he said. “But due to my wife’s illness, the little salary I receive here helps offset our medical costs. I am not able to give back my funds.

“It’s important to understand that the stipend we receive covers our expenses,” St. Clair noted. “We put in extra time at extra meetings and discussions and on the phone.”

Another member of the electorate then made a motion that the board members not receive the $800 for attending the 12 monthly meetings, but that the other payments listed on the schedule be authorized.

The vote on the motion that School Board members not be compensated at all failed to pass, as did the vote on the motion that they not be paid the $800 for their 12 monthly board meetings.

The vote on the motion as presented in the agenda with the above-listed salary schedule was then taken and passed.

The electorate also passed a motion to set the date for the next annual meeting for Sept. 21, 2010.