Fayette County Schools - More money to Already Bloated Administrators

[LowerLevelSeatA]

‘Contrary to the legislative intention that teachers get raises,’ Lockett lambasts FCPS Board’s move to pad administrator’s pockets
Frankfort, Kentucky (June 25, 2024) – Representative Matt Lockett (R-Nicholasville) issued the following statement after the Fayette County Public Schools Board of Education voted on Monday, June 24 to approve “additives,” essentially bonuses to system administrators. The bonuses range between $8,000 and $81,000 based on position.

“This move by Fayette County Public Schools is extremely frustrating and disappointing. We’ve provided a record amount of funding for public education, even after adjusting for inflation, with the specific intent of boosting pay for the women and men who work on the frontlines of our public education system. While I appreciate Fayette County Public Schools providing a pay raise to all employees, slipping hundreds of thousands in bonuses to attorneys, accountants, and administrators is contrary to the legislature’s intention that teachers get raises. These individuals rarely, if ever, find themselves in a classroom engaging with the very children the system exists to serve. Why should they receive more than a teacher, cafeteria worker, or bus driver? I am hopeful the Board will reconsider this decision, perhaps using the money to restore programs that have been cut and provide even more support to students and teachers.”

Earlier this year, Lockett joined members of the Kentucky House and Senate in approving a state budget that included increases in per pupil funding and fully funded transportation at the levels provided by the Kentucky Department of Education, as well as allocating additional funding to make pension contributions on districts’ behalf. While the new budget will take effect on July 1, it builds on the record funding included in the current budget.

State rep. lambasts Fayette school board’s move to pad administrator’s pockets

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Rep. Matt Lockett (R-Nicholasville) issued the following statement after the Fayette County Public Schools Board of Education voted on Monday to approve “additives,” essentially bonuses to system

www.kentuckytoday.com

 

[Ron Mehico]

That’s what it always goes to, everyone knows that. It’s why government spending barely ever works - corruption from the top.

 

[LowerLevelSeatA]

Scroll down on link below to where it has the administrative additives pdf if you want to see all the $$$ they are handing out to administration while they cut other programs due to lack of funding.

Board Buzz

June 24, 2024

secure.smore.com

 

[funKYcat75]

Not going to get into a pissing contest here, but this is not new. Using the director of technology for example. Her base pay is on the teacher salary schedule, meaning on the 190 day teacher calendar. However, she works year round, save for vacation days and such. So she gets the additive to match the amount of working that she does, which is a lot. I wouldn’t do what she does for that salary, even though it’s really good.

Also, I could be wrong about this, but I don’t think these additives are considered when figuring retirement. I have a similar issue with a few thousand a year for extra stuff I do, but it’s considered supplemental, not an additive.

Now, can you argue the amount for some of those at the top is too much. Also, I don’t doubt Rep. Lockett isn’t saying what he thinks is correct, but I’d bet he doesn’t really know how it works.

This is just my understanding of what all of this means. TIFWIW. I’m going back to the beach.

 

[MrHotDice]

Teachers Union voting scam.

 

[HymanKaplan]

Not going to get into a pissing contest here, but this is not new. Using the director of technology for example. Her base pay is on the teacher salary schedule, meaning on the 190 day teacher calendar. However, she works year round, save for vacation days and such. So she gets the additive to match the amount of working that she does, which is a lot. I wouldn’t do what she does for that salary, even though it’s really good.

Also, I could be wrong about this, but I don’t think these additives are considered when figuring retirement. I have a similar issue with a few thousand a year for extra stuff I do, but it’s considered supplemental, not an additive.

Now, can you argue the amount for some of those at the top is too much. Also, I don’t doubt Rep. Lockett isn’t saying what he thinks is correct, but I’d bet he doesn’t really know how it works.

This is just my understanding of what all of this means. TIFWIW. I’m going back to the beach.

It seems like you know her. She's a pretty good egg. I worked on a couple of projects with her when I was a network engineer there. (she was in a different position back then. IOW, not in my chain of command. Essentially, she managed the technology/curriculum side of things.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Not going to get into a pissing contest here, but this is not new. Using the director of technology for example. Her base pay is on the teacher salary schedule, meaning on the 190 day teacher calendar. However, she works year round, save for vacation days and such. So she gets the additive to match the amount of working that she does, which is a lot. I wouldn’t do what she does for that salary, even though it’s really good.

Also, I could be wrong about this, but I don’t think these additives are considered when figuring retirement. I have a similar issue with a few thousand a year for extra stuff I do, but it’s considered supplemental, not an additive.

Now, can you argue the amount for some of those at the top is too much. Also, I don’t doubt Rep. Lockett isn’t saying what he thinks is correct, but I’d bet he doesn’t really know how it works.

This is just my understanding of what all of this means. TIFWIW. I’m going back to the beach.

At least it sounds like that role is doing something. I think the ire is focused at the multitude of jobs that basically do nothing which is 90% of the administrative jobs.

I can virtually guarantee everyone on this board knows at least one person at their local boe that does basically nothing but makes good money. At most they visit a school or two per day but mostly just killing time with long lunches etc.

 

[JonathanW]

As the son of a 40+ year teacher, I know that comparing teacher salaries to most other professions is not so easy. Why?
1) most teachers are at school 7+ hours a day, but may also work 0-4 hours an evening. What do they do other than the classroom time? Grading and lesson planning.
2) most teachers (not my kids Elem teachers since in a Year-round school) do not work about 10 weeks in the summer, so either have extended time off or time they can do a 2nd job (like a summer nanny)
3) teachers via being state workers with a powerful union, have negotiated a very friendly retirement pension package allowing them to retire after only 25-30 years in most states. That just seems insane to retire in your 40’s or early 50’s, when most others will work into their 60’s and some into 70’s, and not get any pension. So essentially teachers are paid more than their salaries, but are taking a good bit of that pay as deferred payments.

 

[AIChatGPT]

Ok thanks.

 

[TruBluCatFan]

Not going to get into a pissing contest here, but this is not new. Using the director of technology for example. Her base pay is on the teacher salary schedule, meaning on the 190 day teacher calendar. However, she works year round, save for vacation days and such. So she gets the additive to match the amount of working that she does, which is a lot. I wouldn’t do what she does for that salary, even though it’s really good.

Also, I could be wrong about this, but I don’t think these additives are considered when figuring retirement. I have a similar issue with a few thousand a year for extra stuff I do, but it’s considered supplemental, not an additive.

Now, can you argue the amount for some of those at the top is too much. Also, I don’t doubt Rep. Lockett isn’t saying what he thinks is correct, but I’d bet he doesn’t really know how it works.

This is just my understanding of what all of this means. TIFWIW. I’m going back to the beach.

That may be true but the Chief Legal Officer is paid for a full year and still got a $65K “additive.”

 

[H-D cat]

I may misunderstand, but is this not what these administrative roles are paid over and above what they'd make as a classroom teacher with the same education and years of experience? Isn't it expected that principals, etc. are paid more than teachers? I understand arguments that there may be too many admin roles, but I don't think it's unrealistic to expect most of these roles would have extra pay associated with them. Maybe I'm off base on what this means?

 

[vhcat70]

You really want to stop this crap? Then vote for the constitutional amendment that allows the Legislature to set up school choice to allow parents to get their kids out of that mess. If you don't vote for it, you consent to this mess and your constant b!tching is useless.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

I may misunderstand, but is this not what these administrative roles are paid over and above what they'd make as a classroom teacher with the same education and years of experience? Isn't it expected that principals, etc. are paid more than teachers? I understand arguments that there may be too many admin roles, but I don't think it's unrealistic to expect most of these roles would have extra pay associated with them. Maybe I'm off base on what this means?

I don't think anyone is complaining about pay of those actually filling roles with impact. The complaint is there are loads of high paying roles that do virtually nothing other than create reports and audit those actually doing things, almost always making the student/teacher experience worse. Usually much worse.

Get rid of all those way overpaid, underworked, and zero value positions and use that money in ways that actually makes sense ie teacher salaries, curriculum, etc.

 

[JumperJack]

The complaint is there are loads of high paying roles that do virtually nothing other than create reports and audit those actually doing things, almost always making the student/teacher experience worse.

Isn’t this why so many people want to get rid of the US Dept. of Education?

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Isn’t this why so many people want to get rid of the US Dept. of Education?

Its one of yes. Bloated government disaster like most of federal government that produces abysmal results at least so much as education of children is the goal. We slipped vs other countries, and in some instances major slippage.

Now if thr goal is to hire a bunch of people as favors of one sort or another or to spend money so you dont lose headcount/budget then its a resounding success.

Cut bloat. End high paying no value administrative jobs. Put that money towards teachers and curriculum. Get politics out of hiring and curriculum. It all sounds so simple and it is, until you realize exactly how many people benefit from the current structure.

 

[TruBluCatFan]

I may misunderstand, but is this not what these administrative roles are paid over and above what they'd make as a classroom teacher with the same education and years of experience? Isn't it expected that principals, etc. are paid more than teachers? I understand arguments that there may be too many admin roles, but I don't think it's unrealistic to expect most of these roles would have extra pay associated with them. Maybe I'm off base on what this means?

No. I don’t think that is completely accurate. Because many of these administrators are not certified teachers so they don’t fall into the teacher salary scale anyway.

 

[LowerLevelSeatA]

Looks like they are paying a speaker named Ron Clark 26,500 to give a speech at their back to school convocation. Poor guy is getting stiffed. I think they should double it 🤦🏻‍♂️.