School board approves pay cut for administrators

By Neil Nisperos 

Staff Writer

CHINO -- Two district administrators are upset over a 3 percent pay cut through furloughs approved last week by the Chino Valley Unified Board of Education to help balance its budget.

The administrators spoke out against the pay cut and an expected board resolution to freeze pay raises across the board for teachers, classified employees and administrators. 

Marshall Elementary School principal Jesus Luna said, "a reduction in salary, added with the possible freeze in step and column, will be disheartening.

"While my words will not change the current economic situation, the decision that you make will impact our leadership team," Luna said. "As a board, I hope that you will continue to find creative ways to balance the budget."

Chino Hills High School assistant principal Kim Cabrera said cutting salaries could cause some administrators to consider leaving the district.

"As a parent of children who attend school in this district, a resident, and voter in the community, I fear that the choice to cut administrative pay will drive young administrators, such as myself, to go elsewhere or to fall back into the teaching ranks to make ends meet, which by the way, with district seniority will possibly cause teachers to be bumped or maybe lose jobs," she said.

Superintendent Wayne Joseph, a former director of alternative education, said the 3 percent pay cut for administrators would come in the form of furlough days, although the details of that implementation are still being determined by district staff.

"I feel badly that (the administrators are) giving up 3 percent in furlough days, and I also feel badly that (the classified workers union) had in the past given up 3 percent in furlough days previously to save positions in their unit," he said.

The district expects to save $5.2 million by implementing a freeze on pay increases awarded to union members for earning supplementary degrees and through longevity. It is expected to approve the plan at its next meeting. Teachers and classified workers have to agree to the freeze before a second county interim budget deadline on March 15. 

The district's administrators do not have a bargaining unit to negotiate pay cuts with the board and would have no bargaining ability on a freeze if the teachers' and classified workers' unions agree to it. Teachers union president Justine Cunningham said the idea would be unpopular with teachers.

Still, board president Sylvia Orozco said she is hopeful for some help with a balanced budget.

"Unfortunately, all of our options are unpopular and It's unfortunate that we have to make any of these cuts," she said.

"But ... I think we all need to give and sacrifice in order to benefit our students."

The budget gap had once been $33 million several months ago, before several recent approved budget reductions that included the sweeping of visual and performing arts grant funds to the general fund, the elimination of two school International Baccalaureate programs, a stagnated increase in class sizes for younger students, and delaying the purchase of new textbooks.

neil.nisperos@inlandnewspapers.com

(909) 483-9356