Schools

New Haven Releases Statement on Staff Pay Raises

Superintendent McVeigh says a handful of classified staff members, along with 30 teachers, received pay increases due to taking on more responsibility outside of their normal scope of work.

The recent approval of pay increases for certain school district staff members has struck a nerve with some New Haven teachers.

During an Oct. 16 school board meeting, trustees approved pay increases for 20 classified staff members and 30 teachers who are taking on additional responsibilities, according to the district.

Of particular outrage to some teachers were three classified staff members who received 10-percent pay raises, two of whom already have six-figure salaries.

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According to the district, those receiving the highest increases were an administrative assistant, director of maintenance and fiscal services director who were earning approximately $86,000; $141,000; and $131,000 before the raises, respectively.

“It doesn’t make sense. We’re all taking on extra duties,” one teacher who wished to remain anonymous told Patch.

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In June, all .

However, the district says the pay increases were justified and are saving the district money because they are using bond funds.

To clear the air, Superintendent Kari McVeigh issued the following statement to district employees last week:

These three classified managers are taking on work outside of their job descriptions or class.  Because they are working outside of their class they are receiving the additional pay.  And unlike many situations where we must contractually pay for work performed out of class, in this case we were able to use bond funds (the work relates to facility/bond projects) for the differential payment and move one whole salary into bond funded work thus saving the general fund $50,000.  It is rare when you pay someone more and actually save the district money. 

McVeigh continued, adding that teachers were also given raises:

That same night over twenty classified and thirty teachers also received additional compensation for working outside their normal scope of work … False rumors whose only purpose is to cause division amongst all of our hardworking staff undermine all of our work. 

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