High-level salaries approved for new top administrators at cash-strapped L.A. Unified School District

High-level salaries for a handful of top administrators in the Los Angeles Unified School District were approved Wednesday.

The actions, taken by the district’s Personnel Commission at the request of new Supt. John Deasy, are part of the superintendent’s effort to assemble a new management team that he pledges to fund in part from private sources.

The salaries drew attention because the school board approved them in April amid a historic budget crisis that resulted in salary reductions, thousands of layoffs and the threat of additional job cuts. Deasy has said the net cost of the new hires will be equal to or lower than that of the current management team, but he has not released specifics.

For a new position, chief of intensive support and intervention, the commission approved a salary of $171,312. The commission, at an April meeting, had previously set a five-step salary range beginning at $137,496. The amended salary is set at the top step of the range. This position will be held by newcomer Donna Muncey.

The commission is expected to backtrack, however, on one salary approval authorized Wednesday. It approved a salary of $204,904 for Matt Hill, who will occupy the new position of chief strategy officer. The superintendent and board already have authorized a salary of $196,352. At its next meeting, the commission is expected to make the adjustment, said interim personnel director Anita Ford.

The commission also approved a raise for a current official, Sharyn Howell, who heads the special education division. She currently makes $154,164 a year in a contract with a year remaining, Ford said. Commission members concluded that her position deserved to be in the same salary range as Muncey's, which would be a boost of more than $17,000 annually. The raise, however, requires Board of Education approval, Ford said.

If the district moves forward with a budget-cutting proposal that includes salary cuts by way of unpaid furlough days, the executive staff is expected to take part as well.

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-- Howard Blume

Photo: John Deasy. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Darkside]

As a teacher this is a slap in the face. I have no problem making sacrifices for the benefit of students but this public entity is being run like a corporation with too many top down decisions being made. How can I feel comfortable about the sacrifices I am being asked to make and to accept the laying off of my colleagues who work hard and connect with students in ways that tenured teachers don't, while these tenured teachers can show movies all day and teach very little if anything simply because they have been doing it for longer. And while those high up in administration are being given salaries that double plus those of the good teachers being let go. America is for sale ladies and gentlemen and they're coming after the education of our children next. Fight the power!!!!

[DVS]

Oh, yes, it's all about the kids... right. Who do they think they're kidding...?
This is ridiculous.