Board approves $15K raise for schools superintendent
- 1/8/10
- Categorized in: DeKalb News, Education
The DeKalb County Board of Education approved a $15,000 raise for Superintendent Crawford Lewis this month, angering educators who said they’ve been denied raises due to the poor economy.
The board voted 8-1 on Jan. 4 to increase Lewis’ salary from $240,000 to $255,000. The board also extended his contract – which was scheduled to expire in October 2011 – through 2012.
Lewis declined to comment on the increase through district spokesman Dale Davis, who directed questions to the board. Lewis, however, agreed to a 2 percent pay reduction and declined a $10,000 cost-of-living increase last year.
Gene Walker was the sole board member to vote against the increase. He has said numerous times he doesn’t believe district workers should receive raises when other employees, teachers included, have been denied them.
Walker could not be reached for comment Jan. 5.
But several upset district employees and educators appeared before the board to protest the salary increase. Teachers have been denied step salary and cost-of-living increases this year and in past years, said David Schutten, president of the Organization of DeKalb Educators, a local affiliate of the Georgia Association of Educators.
District bus drivers also clogged the board’s chambers in Decatur, protesting large cuts to hours and pay, and the board voted in July to temporarily halt district payments to a retirement account for teachers and administrators. Lewis also said cuts could go deeper, and the district has scheduled a press conference on Jan. 8 to discuss the 2010-11 district budget.
“There’s been a lot of discontent over the last two months about this issue, and now it’s going to be worse. People are angry,” Schutten said. “Dr. Lewis and a vast majority of the board members are tone deaf. … The timing is bad. It’s just very bad.”
But board member H. Paul Womack defended the raise and said Lewis has received more lucrative offers from school districts and has improved DeKalb County schools significantly since he was named superintendent in 2004. Womack also said there is only a $500 difference between his new salary and what was initially approved in his 2007 contract.
“This contract has been frozen for three years. There’s no raises,” he said.
The district would have spent far more to replace Lewis had he been lured to another school district, Womack said.
“You’re paid commensurate to your responsibility, and this is a billion-dollar corporation,” he said. “It would cost us $350,000 to get the best superintendent for this district to replace him.”
Rumors about a pay increase became public last month after Schutten criticized the board at a meeting for considering a salary hike. Since then, Lewis has said his pay has fallen considerably behind comparable area superintendents.
I am sure that many employees from the county office to teachers to parapros to media clerks, etc., etc.would welcome an early retirement package in light of all that has happened in the last few years. Anybody thought about offering that as a tax savings plan??
http://crossroadsnews.com/pages/full_story/push?ar...
Frank Lucas
June 22nd, 2009
11:13 am
The Dekalb County School District is the most corrupt school district in America. Dekalb taxpayers should be proud that they are paying the salary of Harold Lewis (formerly of environmental services). Harold Lewis is the nephew of Superintendant Crawford Lewis. Last November (2008), Harold Lewis was caught in his office by an Annonymous source engaged in a sexual act with his secretary. Dekalb County taxpayers should be proud that Harold Lewis is still gainfully employed by the Dekalb County School District at a salary of approximately $98,000 a year. Way to go Crawford Lewis.
Board member Womack fails to understand that the Dekalb School District is a form of GOVERNMENT and not a PRIVATE CORPORATION. There are no stockholders and no risk of profit-loss in the school district versus for example a business like Home Depot. Thus the superintendent is not a true CEO like ones of a business corporation, and the School Board should not justify his salary based on private business. In fact Mr. Lewis is just a government employee being treated like a KING. And who is looking out for the students? This answer is simple. IT IS YOUR TEACHERS!
I totally agree with your comments. Let's not forget to mention a $2500 a month expense account. I know employees that do not bring home $2500 a month! There's a dark cloud of suspicion over the school system about alleged misappropriation of construction funds (millions of dollars). Some board members have relatives that were GIVEN jobs that they did not rightfully deserve over other more qualified applicants. Other board members own businesses that they profit from because of their affiliation with the school system. DeKalb Schools is way too "TOP HEAVY". Far too many unnecessary positions were created to 'accomodate' people who should have been fired or allowed to retire. There are too many secretaries who make in excess of $60K (at the district level only - of course). School house secretaries are lucky to make $40K. DEKALB SCHOOL OF GRADUATES - 2 positions - both pay more than 85K - what do they do? Principals who Dr. Lewis 'likes' are hidden from public view after they get in trouble - out of sight - out of mind - while they still collect HUGE salaries. Those he doesn't - get demoted, humiliated, if not fired altogether. He made it very clear when he received the job that he was going to look out for everyone who looked out for him - and he has done just that - all at the expense of teaching and learning!
And the condition of some county schools like Cross Keys, Lakeside, and Sequoyah are deplorable and beyond unacceptable.
Lewis has been with the school system for over three decades. If he has an opportunity to be hired by another system at a higher salary, make our day and move on!