EDITOR: You get what you pay for. I have attended the majority
of the Morgan Hill School District Board meetings for well over a
year. During that time I have observed some questionable business
practices and poor financial decisions associated with the
operation of the district. Just when you think you
’ve seen it all, a presentation made Monday by the teacher’s
union representative, Donna Foster, blew me away.
EDITOR:
You get what you pay for.
I have attended the majority of the Morgan Hill School District Board meetings for well over a year. During that time I have observed some questionable business practices and poor financial decisions associated with the operation of the district. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, a presentation made Monday by the teacher’s union representative, Donna Foster, blew me away.
Her presentation compared the incomes of teachers in this district with the incomes of teachers in comparable districts in Santa Clara County. At every level, teachers in the Morgan Hill School District are the lowest paid. On the other hand, according to Foster’s presentation, Superintendent Carolyn McKennan is the highest paid superintendent in Santa Clara County.
Hold on to your hats, this is a breakdown of McKennan’s salary and benefit package for 2003:
Base Salary: $132,600; other compensation: $35,000 ($5,000 for each year of service); benefits: $24,4000; total compensation: $192,000
You get what you pay for.
Let’s look at the justification. Test scores (poor), number of students graduating (poor)), employee morale (poor), employee turnover (above average), number of students now attending private schools (increasing), the ability to bring a construction project in on plan (never), financial position (current balance in the checkbook – $1.10) and the list of accomplishments goes on.
You have doubts? Go to the district office and look at results for yourself. This is a trend that has continued for years with minimal improvement if any.
How can this be allowed to happen? I can give you four specific reasons: Tom Kinoshita, Del Foster, Jan Masuda and George Panos. All four trustees continue to support Carolyn McKennan and continue to renew her contract year after year.
You want change? Ask Tom, Del, Jan and George what they intend to do about it.
Harlan Warthen, Morgan Hill
