District 15 Superintendent Gets Raise, New Contract

District 15 Superintendent Scott Thompson has a new contract and a new salary.

The school board recently voted 4-3 to approve the contract, and 2.5 percent salary increase, which brings Thompson to a salary of $228,808. His contract now expires in 2017.

Voting against the increase were board members Scott Herr, Manjula Sriram and Gerard Iannuzzelli. Board President Peggy Babcock and members Richard Bokor, James Ekeberg and David Seiffert voted in favor of the contract and salary increase.

Herr said he voted against the contract and increase because previous goals set out by Thompson were not met, He attempted to discuss the personnel issues in closed session, but board members voted against that move.

Herr then elaborated on his concerns with the new contract and increase.

“I don't support the 2.25 percent salary increase as proposed for the Superintendent for two main reasons. There are at least three incomplete goals and there were other issues during the year,” he said.

For example, he said, Thompson has not presented a plan allocating resources to schools and programs based upon need, has not identified future programs that would enhance children’s education experiences, and has not developed an administrative merit pay system including salary bands for specific job categories.

However, officials said these are goals that still continue to be worked on.

Babcock added that with the contract going until 2017, Thompson has many years ahead to work on the goals. 

The split vote by the board follows a string of recently divided votes by the board. Other dissension has arisen over late starts and early dismissals and a new $55 million contract with ESPA union.