MONROE - Administrators in the Monroe School District received two-year contracts with raises of $2,500 each after a closed session meeting Monday night, during which officials approved the contracts for 2011-12.
As part of the pact, the board will require administrators to contribute half of the cost of providing the Wisconsin Retirement System, which is about 5.8 percent of their total salary, officials said in a school board statement, issued Tuesday.
The savings to the district by requiring the retirement contribution are more than double the cost of the salary increases, they added. "The cost to the district for the administrators will be less next school year with no changes to the administrative team," said Monroe School Board Vice President Bob Erb. Erb said the board voted 7-1 to approve the administrative contracts, with Les Bieneman casting the lone dissenting vote.
Repeated attempts to reach Bieneman and other district officials for comment were unsuccessful Monday night.
The salary wage increases for administrators is less than the Consumer Price Index factor that the bill will use for collective bargaining groups, the district said.
Erb said Monroe administrators, in the past, have taken salary freezes and two insurance changes that have saved the district money. In March, the Monroe School Board approved a two-year contract extension with the Monroe Education Association that places teachers under a two-year salary freeze. Erb said the district delayed a decision on the administrative contracts earlier this year until they could get a better picture of the financial situation with the state budget.
"It's not apples to apples," Erb said, of trying to compare the salary freeze teachers reached with the administrative hikes approved by the board.
Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown and Business Manager Ron Olson, in a statement on the teachers' contract extension last March, said that the freeze on the salary schedule, steps, and the increased contribution percentage changes for health care and retirement will save the district a minimum of $1.4 million in the first year and $1.85 million in the second year of the extension.
Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill limiting collective bargaining rights for public employees, including teachers, has been upheld by the state supreme court, and is set to take effect today.
As part of the pact, the board will require administrators to contribute half of the cost of providing the Wisconsin Retirement System, which is about 5.8 percent of their total salary, officials said in a school board statement, issued Tuesday.
The savings to the district by requiring the retirement contribution are more than double the cost of the salary increases, they added. "The cost to the district for the administrators will be less next school year with no changes to the administrative team," said Monroe School Board Vice President Bob Erb. Erb said the board voted 7-1 to approve the administrative contracts, with Les Bieneman casting the lone dissenting vote.
Repeated attempts to reach Bieneman and other district officials for comment were unsuccessful Monday night.
The salary wage increases for administrators is less than the Consumer Price Index factor that the bill will use for collective bargaining groups, the district said.
Erb said Monroe administrators, in the past, have taken salary freezes and two insurance changes that have saved the district money. In March, the Monroe School Board approved a two-year contract extension with the Monroe Education Association that places teachers under a two-year salary freeze. Erb said the district delayed a decision on the administrative contracts earlier this year until they could get a better picture of the financial situation with the state budget.
"It's not apples to apples," Erb said, of trying to compare the salary freeze teachers reached with the administrative hikes approved by the board.
Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown and Business Manager Ron Olson, in a statement on the teachers' contract extension last March, said that the freeze on the salary schedule, steps, and the increased contribution percentage changes for health care and retirement will save the district a minimum of $1.4 million in the first year and $1.85 million in the second year of the extension.
Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill limiting collective bargaining rights for public employees, including teachers, has been upheld by the state supreme court, and is set to take effect today.