TUSD hiring freeze forces fast action
Only two days after rushing to increase the salary of TUSD Superintendent John Pedicone, the district announced a hiring freeze and moratorium on travel with expenses until further notice. The district claims that the hiring freeze is in response to potential reductions due to the district budget deficit projected for FY 2013-2014.
The hiring freeze applies to positions funded from the district’s maintenance and operations budget only. Positions funded from grants are not subject to the hiring freeze.
Exceptions to the hiring freeze will be considered for positions that are needed to stay in compliance with State or Federal laws.
“The Board represents the public, and pushing this raise through just before the election sends the wrong signal, especially when we have spent so much effort preparing TUSD families and staff for sacrifices. We should welcome the public process, not preempt it,” said Dr. Mark Stegeman of the renewal. Dr. Stegeman was the only vote against the hurried move.
The TUSD Governing Board raced to renew the contract of Pedicone in response to concerns that a new Board might not renew his contract. According to accountants, Pedicone’s total annual salary package is over $400,000 which includes a total of all district monies paid for his employment according to industry standards.
Pedicone received a $15,000 raise, which Board member Cuevas claims is merely an increase in cash benefits rather than a “raise.” His new contract includes an $11,000 increase in his annuity payments, and a $4,000+ value of the additional week of paid leave. Pedicone will also receive an additional $10,000 for each year he completes of the two year contract which brings his annual compensation increase to $25,000.
His counterpart at Mesa Unified School District, Dr. Michael Cowan, makes $4.71 per student, while Pedicone’s is 82% higher at $8.57 per student. Mesa Unified School District has 10,000 more students.
“By rushing to extend Dr. Pedicone’s contract and give him a substantial raise, the majority of the Governing Board once again sacrificed the needs of students in the classroom in order to spend more money on administration,” said Rich Kronberg, co-founder of TU4SD. “No Governing Board member who participated in this misuse of taxpayer money is worthy of re-election.” Both Miguel Cuevas and Alexandre Sugiyama are up for reelection, both voted for the raise and renewal.
Dr. Mark Stegeman, the district’s watchdog Board member noted the hiring freeze in his newsletter to constituents, “A letter from TUSD’s CFO, sent to all district staff on Friday, imposes a district-wide hiring and travel freeze. The letter also describes procedures for granting exceptions. The Board’s copy is, oddly, dated August 22; perhaps the letter was drafted some time before it was actually issued.”
Pedicone’s raise was approved on August 28.
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