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Hernando Today

Alexander Lowers Raise Request To 5.5 Percent

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By LINNEA BROWN

Published: May 2, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Faced with public outrage after news broke of a requested raise of nearly 14 percent, Superintendent Wayne Alexander has submitted a counterproposal of nearly 5.5 percent.

With Alexander's annual contract review up for discussion at Tuesday's Hernando County School Board workshop, Alexander has now requested that his salary be raised from $119,000 to nearly $126,000. He previously requested $135,000.

He has also relented on several other aspects of his original proposal. He has withdrawn his request to teach college courses, rolled back his requested contract extension from two years to one and lowered his requested monthly gasoline budget from $950 to $750. He currently receives $500 per month for fuel and miscellaneous business expenses.

Longtime board member and Vice Chairman Jim Malcolm, who balked at Alexander's initial request, described the new offer as "dramatically different and much more reasonable."

"I think he started off asking for the moon, and now he's put a much more realistic proposal before the board," he said.

"If you look over the kinds of things we asked him to do and the things he has done, he has done an excellent job," Malcolm added. "Has he shaken up our organization? Made positive changes? Painted a positive vision and direction for where he wants he wants our county to go? Yes."

Malcolm said he will support extending Alexander's contract by a year and will consider the 5.5 percent raise, though he said he would rather see Alexander wait until the end of the summer, when state and district budget figures are in.

"I think its best that he waits until we have a clear picture of how much we're getting first," he said. "We have always been in the custom of waiting until the outcome of negotiations, and I would like to continue that practice."

Board member Pat Fagan pointed toward equality for all district employees.

"I've given Alexander an overall good evaluation," he said. "But I've also informed Dr. Alexander that there's no possible way that I can recommend more than what (percentage) the teachers receive this year. With the economy the way it is now, we've got to be fair and equal to everyone."

In January, board members approved a 6.04 raise for teachers and a 5.5 percent raise for other staff and administrators.

Historically, the board has always given the superintendent the same percentage of salary increase offered to other district administrators.

Joe Vitalo, president of the Hernando Classroom Teachers' Association union, also focused on this precedence.

"There is a belief that in negotiations one should shoot high, but then gravity sets in and reality returns," he said. "True, the 14 percent was the starting point, but now realistic numbers have appeared. The question that still remains with all of the employees will be, 'Where do we fit in with this?' When it's HCTA's turn to negotiate, we've always carried the philosophy of not wasting time messing with gravity unless you've been given a rocket ship."

Malcolm said he will not support Alexander's requested increase in monthly gasoline budget, though he would support his additional request to combine his automobile allowance with his salary for retirement benefit purposes — something the board approved for former superintendent Wendy Tellone.

Fagan said he's not so sure, and is still going over the numbers.

Both Malcolm and Fagan said they would not have supported a two-year extension of Alexander's contract or initial 14 percent raise request, which Alexander first referred to as part of the negotiating process.

"I told him, 'Buddy, you shouldn't even be thinking about 14 percent," Malcolm said. "I also thought his (request to teach college courses) was premature. He should be so busy focusing in on the district that he doesn't have time for anything else."

Board chairwoman Sandra Nicholson said she thinks Alexander's counteroffer is reasonable, though she noted his lack of tact in presenting his initial offer.

"I think he's done a good job and it's a reasonable request," she said. "He just didn't understand (the process) in Florida and negotiations. It's too bad how it all came out, but I'm sure he learned a lot from it."

Malcolm agreed.

"Sometimes in Dr. Alexander's high-energy approach to things, he could use a little more diplomacy in advancing his agenda," he said. "I think he gets right to the point, and some people consider his 'high-energy approach' as brash. There's got to be a better way that he communicates his vision with the district family."

At press time, Alexander had not returned a request for comment.

Also at Tuesday's afternoon workshop, the board will conduct their annual evaluation of school board attorney Paul Carland.

The board will also hear an update of the implementation of the district's new International Baccalaureate program at Springstead High School and career academies program at all area high schools, set to begin in 2008.

Notable issues at Tuesday's 7 p.m. regular board meeting include includes a public hearing and final approval of Alexander's recommended reorganization of the district, including new job descriptions such as a grant writer, director of technology and information services and four curriculum specialists.

Both meetings will take place at the district's headquarters, located at 919 N. Broad Street in Brooksville.

Reporter Linnea Brown can be reached at 352-544-5289 or lbrown@hernandotoday.com.

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