All this information is from public records found at www.open.georgia.gov .
I guess taking some flak for having too many central office people leads our current school system leadership to simply change titles when self reporting to the state and the public which they supposedly serve and then crowing about how they really haven’t grown positions (just buildings and office space).
Apologies to the people listed. I’m pretty sure they didn’t misrepresent/mislabel their own positions. They aren’t the ones responsible for reporting their titles to the state.
Hall County School Year 2008 information.
Just a quick look through.
I’m sure these are all fine people who earn every penny but they ARE central office based and many serve in administrative roles. This is all public record.
Sally Krisel at 98K, Gerald Boyd at 90K and Sandra Perry at 102K – all listed as “Instructional Supervisors” just like the school level instructional coaches. (actual or formal titles of their positions are Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning/Rigor Specialist, Competency Specialist, and Coordinator of ESOL respectively)
Sandra Edwards – IS Personnel at 113K (Hall County IB Coordinator)
David Robles – IS Personnel at 94K ( Instructional Technology Coordinator)
Cindy Tu – School Secretary at 58K (Assistant Coordinator of ESOL)
Delane Melton – IS Personnel at 79K (Chief Technology Officer)
Carrie Woodcock – Director of Curriculum – 40K (4 Curriculum Directors now? Must bring the salary average of the curriculum directors down or something)
Nancy Fields – Other Instructional at 62K (almost 7K in travel) (Singapore Math Coordinator?)
Crandall Autry – Principal at 48K (he was at CO last year in a half time retirement job, not a school)
And the capper!
Aaron Turpin – SUBSTITUTE TEACHER at over 109K! (and over 5K in travel) (Actually a former principal and promoted to Executive Director of Information Technology)
What is that? Close to 1 million bucks in just salaries without adding benefits?
Kind of a big oversight there.
And oh yeah, in case you missed it – We also paid the super’s good principal buddy another $9,700.00 plus to drive back and forth from work and his home last year.
Even though it is against state regulations and a huge waste of taxpayer money. (See prior post for links to regulations – the travel can be found on www.open.georgia.gov ).
You make the call.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Don’t forget that that site shows that Schofield’s buddy has the 8th highest paid travel allowance of all the principals IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF GEORGIA!! There are only 7 principals in the entire state that were paid more than him for travel last year AND there are only 12 SCHOOL SYSTEM SUPERINTENDENTS in the entire state that were paid more travel than the buddy. Nice perk!!
Regarding the elementary principal mentioned in the post the BOE paid him $9767.82 in travel to be exact.
A little perspective on that would be that the average for all the others listed as principal in Hall for 2008 (35 of them) was only $860.10!
Even if you add in the substitute teacher who really was a principal who got promoted to central office and received over $5,000.00 in travel in there, the average is still less than $1,000.00
Big discrepancy there.
Interesting to say the very least.
[...] The downside of putting government spending online? People look at it. [...]
Thanks Best o’ state- Just one more website that this info is on.
Very interesting post, and even more interesting comment. It adds even more insight into some things that have been going on. I wish everything that goes on could be posted here….
Oh well. Even if nothing is done, I am a firm believer in what goes around comes around.
I guess the auditors for the state can’t get out and investigate if things are accurately reported when they are doing an audit. Can that be changed? Who can we write to get a more comprehensive audit of school systems?
What is so funny is that all of you clowns on here talk and talk and talk and nothing ever happens. Ya’ll are in such a minority when you step out (well most of you don’t have the nerve to step out) into the real world that no one pays any attention to you. Have ya’ll ever stopped to take a look at those facts?
Then what are you worried about?
“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world: indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
What’s wrong is wrong no matter what the surrounding circumstances. What has been documented and is public record is wrong any way you try to spin it. Hallco should be proud!
have you all contacted the inspector general?
One thing to point out. None of this kind of crazy stuff ever happened in this system until the current superintendent came along. Could be coincidence I guess.
Just because outside agencies haven’t done anything yet, doesn’t mean they won’t.
Am I understanding this correctly? There are substitute teachers in Hall County making over a hundred thousand dollars a year? What are the qualifications that are holding me back?
ss: The sub making over 100 K is actually a former principal who has been promoted up to central office as an Executive Director. For some reason he and several others did not have their job descriptions properly posted in the audit report.
Some believe it may be an attempt to make the district seem like it is not wasting money on having too many central office employees during a time when the current administration has been catching fire for spending and promoting cronies to made up positions.
One thing to note about audits performed by the state: The state auditors that come in to look at the closed books only really check to see if bottom lines add up with what is posted or sent in by the district. They do not delve into the particulars unless they have a reason to do so for some reason. For example: They would just check to see if the personnel and travel totals line up. The state auditors would not look into who got what and for what reason or who is listed as a substitute teacher or an instructional supervisor unless they had some reason to do so.
So someone saying we get an annual audit and pass it is telling the truth, however it is a bit misleading in that it is not a really in depth or exploratory type of auditing process.
SS:
If the Hall County Administration has made an honest mistake in mislabeling an executive as substitute teacher, they really ought to take steps to correct it. Otherwise, the disparity of income between this person and other substitutes could easily result in a discrimination law suit in this litigious age. Once done, it is quite likely that any other creative position labeling would come to light both in court and in the media. That would be too bad.
J.G.
J.G.: Well put as always. Good to see you over here my friend!
You’re slipping!
WS’s sugary sweet principal friend also got around a $10,000.00 pay raise according to the online data from 07-08.
Must be nice!
Come on BOE- these are your tax dollars being spent also. Do what is right! Even if you didn’t know about all of this shady stuff before- you know now!
A2, I don’t think face to face at a board meeting will resolve anything. The board members are aware of the money being spent, how personnel are classified for audits, and how that affects their reputations.
Goading this group to do something is a little comical. We are doing far more than just talk on this blog. But just by talking back and forth on this blog and other blogs keeps you all apprised of what is being said in your schools, after PTO meetings, and in our community- and it is not just the employees because they really are too afraid to talk.
Let us get back to the matter at hand- WASTED MONEY
Put the check ledgers on the webpage!!!
I’ll say again:
Let us get back to the matter at hand- WASTED MONEY
Put the check ledgers on the webpage!!!
Didn’t the board sign off on these things? Sad.
Your arguments continue to be top heavy, wasteful, overspending system. Those are valid concerns. A quick review of facts regarding the 13 systems in Pioneer RESA. Hall teachers are now the highest paid, Hall per pupil expenditures are 3rd from lowest (actually passed Gainesville in most areas). Something doesn’t add up. Please explain how this is possible if Hall spends money that irresponsibly. Thank you.
Just re-checked. sorry, Hall appears to be the lowest per pupil expenditure system in the RESA. If Forsyth was still in the RESA, Hall would still be the most efficient, and it’s not even close. Again, all while having a well paid teaching staff.
So spending more on staff ( I assume all certified people are included not just teachers) and spending less on each kid is a good thing?
Are we confusing the amount spent with where it actually goes? You could be only spending 10 dollars but if goes in someone’s gas tank and not to the students then I would still call it wasted.
As far as State rankings go, States with lower per pupil expenditures are generally seen as being worse on the education scale.
For example: Mississippi is ranked 50th, the lowest per pupil expenditure while Connecticut is ranked at 4th.
I’m sure there are many other tings that go into the rankings regarding the quality of education but it looks like as a rule higher is better in terms of per pupil expenditures.
As far as highest salaries goes, well that goes for all the admins and instructional supervisors too, so I guess you could say it benefits the ones that set it higher? Not that that is a bad thing.
do any of yall have any experience as far as making administrative decisions, not in education but in private sector. i am not asking this in a negative way. i am just curious.
http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=203607
interesting opinion on paddling, interesting sounding board
I will respond to Anonymous 2 on the administrative experience in the private sector thing. The answer is ‘yes’ in my case, and you’ll just have to trust me on that. I realize you asked the question out of curiosity with no negativity intended. I respond in the same spirit.
Still, the question has a premise (at least as I perceive it) and that premise is that private sector experience matters with regard to the subject being discussed. But it doesn’t.
I’m in the private sector. Thus, the money I spend, the people I hire, the positions I bestow, and the perks I grant are private issues for which I owe no outside party the benefit of scrutiny. But if I allow my company to become top heavy and offer poor customer service, my patrons will take their business and money elsewhere. That’s the double-edged sword of free enterprise and competition. Accountability is inherently necessary unless my aspirations include bankruptcy.
In the public sector, accountability ends at compliance with regulation. Since nobody is allowed to compete with public schools for public dollars, there is no competition in the equation to compel responsible fiscal policy with tax dollars. The only thing we have left is political pressure and the ballot. Witness political pressure at the grass roots level- this blog.
As for previous posts suggesting anonymous viewpoints have no bearing on reality? I would remind you that every last vote for our new president was indeed an anonymous one. Class dismissed.
J.G.
Has the board considered eliminating all travel, reducing professional learning expenses, and putting instructional coaches back into the classroom? Also, I think as a whole, teachers would be willing to work 185 days in order to keep class sizes lower.
Hard to know. They are not the most forth coming group. Who knew this shuffling of south Hall schools was in the works. They like to work in secret.
Might not be a bad idea. I am outraged, however, that we want to lower standards for our high school students by lowering the amount of credits to graduate. Rigor indded
Building on projections is always a dumb move. The board simply got ahead of itself and is now trying to do damage control. Spin, spin, spin. Several people thought that growth in the area was going to slow. Certain people were just too eager to build and leave their names on a new building.
So you built a 36.5 million dollar building you didn’t need.
Way to go bubba.
Hey– I do give them props for cutting 8-10 central office positions that will save about a million!!
Now, if they would just cut instructional coaches and graduation coaches.
Believe it when I see it.
lets go back and look at a few recent posts :
budget questions, on February 3rd, 2009 at 5:59 am Said: “Also, I think as a whole, teachers would be willing to work 185 days in order to keep class sizes lower.” i dont know what teachers that you are talking to but they are already overworked and underpaid and if you think they are gonna work an extra five days unpaid days you are wrong and if you are suggesting paid days well now is certainly not the time.
Budget, on February 3rd, 2009 at 6:16 am Said..”Who knew this shuffling of south Hall schools was in the works. They like to work in secret.”….i am assuming your are talking about the board and admin and since when did it become necessary for them to run everything by us before they bring it up in a board meeting (probably a board meeting that you didnt bother to attend)
Anonymous, on February 3rd, 2009 at 8:25 pm Said: “Building on projections is always a dumb move”..nice logic there A..it is always better to wait around and play catch up..you should let the system know this because they waste lots of time and money trying to play ahead also….” Several people thought that growth in the area was going to slow.”….who are these several people? so they had the foresight to know that the economy was going to go into the tank which would cause a great loss of jobs..which would cause a great number of hispanics to move out of hall county…which has resulted in a lot of the flat lining of the school population….too bad they didnt clue a lot of business leaders in …..and then the winner of them all..
Anonymous, on February 4th, 2009 at 5:14 pm Said: “Seems to me that that ‘fix’ could be accomplished with just one school move – South Hall Middle to the new complex.
Not enough white folks at South Hall to give them the new school”
A, you obviously dont have a clue..there are obvious reasons for moving each of the schools up to a bigger facility..if you havent grasped the idea by now then nothing i say will make any difference..but before the county spends a tremendous amount of money on remodeling the 35 yr old campus at s hall you should remind them of the tremendous number of non- whites who attend there…the board probably doesnt really want to waste that money.
and one other thing A..what are you talkiing about…deleting your posts? i am not smart enough to know how,,,but i wish i did!
A2, I was talking about making teacher contracts 185 days or even 189 days. Why would I suggest making teachers work 5 unpaid days? That is already done by the “suggested” classes in the summer.
Is Hall County cutting all travel expenses, instructional coaches, and graduation coaches? Many counties are doing this to save money.
A2, you do realize anyone who doesn’t type in a name is labeled ‘Anonymous’ by default? Those are probably several different people.
hey A..if the best you got is calling me tiger and filling me in on anonymous posts you are very weak.seems as though you want people to think there are numerous posters who are identified as “anonymous”. i am guessing you are embarrassed that you got called out on some of your ignorant comments and you are trying to distance yourself. got news for you tiger, that aint gonna work. in case you didnt know this, the majority of teachers salaries comes from the state and they are sure not gonna come off the hip with any more money. extending contracts at the present time is not even an option. as far as cutting travel expenses, etc. i have know way of knowing what they are planning but it seems by the way that you ask the question that you think you do already know the answer so why dont you go ahead and enlighten all of us and while you are at it, could you give us a list of the many counties that are already taking this route as a solution.
O.K. A2, I’ll explain again. Teacher contracts are for 190 days. I think teachers would be willing to work 185-189 days to save money in order to keep class sizes lower. That is less money, but less days required on the job.
Why don’t you do some investigating to see how other counties are saving money? Some good stuff out there.
I’ll be surprised if the state doesn’t wind up going that route.
Things are about to get very bad here in Hall due in large part to poor leadership decisions. Watch your backs everyone and consult your lawyers before agreeing to or signing anything. Good luck!
Everyone needs to make themselves very aware of the differences between a reduction in force layoff and a nonrenewal or resignation. There are bearings on finding future employment and rights. There is probably no way around jobs being cut at this point but don’t let them take advantage of you because you are ignorant of the details. Make them do it the right way, not the way that is easiest for them but may be harmful to you. If non renewed be sure to request a reason in writing from the superintendent’s office then contact a PAGE or GAE representative. They will try to tell you you have no rights to be heard but a good representative knows better. Don’t fall for the resign and it will be better for you, it’s a line of bull. It’s better for them. Most applications ask if you have resigned in lieu of being nonrenewed now. Good luck.
I wouldn’t even call PAGE or GAE, I would get your own lawyer. I would also not resign. Make them do the paperwork to nonrenew.
Sound advice.
Does anyone know how many jobs other counties are cutting?
Just for information, there are 4 different posters who are identified above as ”anonymous’.
Someone mentioned building a school based on enrollment projections. My understanding is the State says this is a no no as far as using state funds goes. This is why you see new schools opening with trailers already. The law was put in place to keep small systems from building huge schools at taxpayer expense when they did not need to. I’m not saying I think that the law is a smart one but that is what I was told when I checked. Now SPLOST money might be handled differently, I’ll try and do some more research. Either way I’d say this latest plan about moving the schools seems to be good given the problem that has happened.
Looking at 2008 salaries in HC. Martha Zoller – $26,177.50-
Other Instructional Provider.
What exactly did Martha do for Hall Co Schools in 2008?
Is she still under contract this year?
The price to Hall County to eliminate bad publicity? $26,177.50
John K: I believe she was a mentor of some sort and I believe she is.
I think it would be a nice gesture to mentor for free. We have a lot of fine free mentors in this county!
A mentor is an individual who helps and guides another individual’s development. This guidance is not done for personal gain.
As long as she is under “contract” with Hall County she is contractually obligated not to talk about the poor state of affairs in the central office or schools on air or in any article.
When the county is cutting hours and jobs of both certified and classified staff; holding teacher contracts until April and keeping staff wired tight as a drum in anticipation, ANY money spent on a “paid” mentor is inappropriate.
Things like this are why Hall County had to “Let go” of 135 employees.
You all should look a little closer at the relationship between the Superintendent and the person who received the travel money you have referenced. It might be closer than you think.