MIFFLINBURG — Hours after he told directors that his school district did not meet adequate yearly progress for the second year in a row, Superintendent Dan Lichtel on Tuesday night accepted a 4 percent raise under a performance-based incentive in his contract, double the salary increase he received in June.
Mifflinburg educators, who last year accepted a salary freeze as a result of state budget cuts, are furious.
“We, the faculty and staff, have done our part to save the district money,” said Jane Gessner, president of the Mifflinburg Area Education Association. “However, I am completely speechless and disheartened by what has occurred as a result of the school board meeting.
“In a time of economic struggle, high unemployment rates, public school funding cuts (and) activity fees rising for students, Mifflinburg school district apparently has a surplus of funds.”
Directors voted 9-0 to approve Lichtel’s salary increase following a late executive session at Tuesday night’s meeting.
The 4 percent, retroactive to July, is based on the $100,000 salary Lichtel earned in the 2011-12 school year.
The school board approved a 2 percent raise for Lichtel, and others, in June. Lichtel’s salary is now $102,000.
Lichtel’s contract stipulates that he is eligible for a 4 percent to 7 percent increase based on his performance evaluation. Given the economic climate, the board voted for the lower end, Lichtel said, adding that he received a positive evaluation.
Such an increase is covered in a salary line item of the school district budget, Lichtel said, and is calculated before the budget is passed.
Even with the increase, Lichtel is still on the lower end of superintendent salaries, director Neil Shoremans said.
“That’s typical if you move from a non-superintendent position into superintendent,” he said.
Lichtel’s five-year contract began in April 2010, when he was promoted to superintendent from curriculum coordinator. He’s been employed by the district for about 14 years.
Director: Chief went without raise last year
Shoreman also said that Lichtel waived the raise last year. The increase, however, “is part of his contract when he was hired.”
Besides that, “I felt the man earned it,” director John Bohn said of his vote, “based on the trying times he’s steered the school district through.”
Dennis Keiser, the newest school board member, called Lichtel “an outstanding person. I think we’re very fortunate to have Dan.”
Knowing how Lichtel has come up through the ranks — as a teacher, then principal, then curriculum coordinator — “I’m really impressed with him.”
Board members approved his raise on the same night Lichtel announced Mifflinburg had not met adequate yearly progress on Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests, most recently, in two categories, both related to economically disadvantaged students: The high school graduation rate and the reading rate for grades 3-5.
The district has received a warning from the state Department of Education.
Mifflinburg had improved its rate for high school reading among economically disadvantaged students, a category in which it failed to meet adequate yearly progress last year.
Scores increasing, school board member says
AYP score levels are increasing year after year, Shoreman said.
“It keeps getting higher and higher, and it becomes incrementally higher and harder to meet,” Shoreman said.
Bohn said measures are in place to raise AYP scores, including an earlier start to the school year, which begins Monday.
Said Bohn: “We looked in depth at the new plans in place, the teaching strategy and different curriculums with (Lichtel’s) leadership and steering” from Jill Wenrich, the now former director of curriculum who left Mifflinburg last month. She is now assistant superintendent of the South Western School District in York County.
“There is never a good time (for this), I understand that,” Bohn said, noting the financial climate. “But we have a good CEO and the gentleman really led the district through some tough times. And when the contract calls for it, I can’t back off.”
Nevertheless, the increase comes when Mifflinburg has faced financial issues that prompted a freeze of teachers’ and staff salaries and the closing of three elementary schools.
Mifflinburg teachers ratified last spring their contract that provides a 1 percent raise over two years. It will run through the 2013-14 school year.
Asked about possible reaction from teachers and staff about this increase, Lichtel replied, “I can’t be concerned about that.”
Educators are concerned.
“Teachers have been doing everything they possibly can do to save the district money,” Gessner said. “A pay freeze followed by a less than 1 percent raise over the next two years is just the start.”
Gessner said teachers paid for supplies out of their own pockets, restructured their health care options and have accepted more pupils per class because of a 10 percent reduction in faculty, Gessner said.
“To date,” Gessner said, “the administrative positions have not been cut at all.”
Mifflinburg’s final 2012-13 budget is $25.9 million with a $600,000 deficit.
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