Ladies and Gents, obviously, times are tough.National tax cuts are set to expire next year, pay checks are going down, ZCS teachers conceded to a pay freeze. And the Zionsville School Corporation is in such dire straights, they are asking for more money to apparently just maintain the status quo. If ZCS has anything to say about it, our proverbial Rome is burning.
According to a highly placed insider at the school corporation, the ZCS superintendent has a healthy little car allowance. How healthy you ask?
Dr. Robison's employment contract contains an amendment that includes a car allowance of two $10,500 payments paid to him on the first of March and September of each contract year. So, doing the math, that is a $21,000 per year car allowance.
Don't take Zionsville Confidential's word for it, call his office and ask for his employment contract. It's public record, and you dear taxpayer are the public.
Well, pimp my Chevy. Maybe times aren't so tough for ZCS.
Well, pimp my Chevy. Maybe times aren't so tough for ZCS.
In addition to his stated $133,076.92 base salary, Dr. Robison's contract is also flush with other juicy perks. Aside from the run of the mill benefits of 20 vacation days that can be used "upon approval by the superintendent" (himself), 4 personal days, and 15 days of sick leave, his contract has several matching retirement benefits.
There is a 403(b) tax-sheltered annuity, a 401(a) tax-sheltered annuity that are both matched with a percentage of Robison's gross salary. There is also another employer provided annuity that is paid for at the cost of $15,384.
Then, there are contributions to the Teacher's Retirement Fund that ZCS pays both the employee (Robison) and employer (ZCS) contributions. Not included in his "salary" is $15,000 that ZCS agrees to include in the budget for "participation in appropriate meetings and activities".
There is a 403(b) tax-sheltered annuity, a 401(a) tax-sheltered annuity that are both matched with a percentage of Robison's gross salary. There is also another employer provided annuity that is paid for at the cost of $15,384.
Then, there are contributions to the Teacher's Retirement Fund that ZCS pays both the employee (Robison) and employer (ZCS) contributions. Not included in his "salary" is $15,000 that ZCS agrees to include in the budget for "participation in appropriate meetings and activities".
Dr. Robison is highly qualified, and as such should rightly be compensated. However, if Rome is burning, Caesar should ditch the chariot allowance.
Is it just me, or are there others in Zionsville who wonder why ZCS even needs a Superintendent and all of the excess fluff that this office brings? Surely, in a school district as small as Zionsville's, the respective principals can get together as needed to coordinate on matters of mutual interest. While I don't have any problem with Dr. Robison himself, I just don't believe he is needed here.
ReplyDeleteThere is a market value for superintendents. You don't want some schmuck running our school system do you? What salary do you suggest?
ReplyDeleteAre you willing to pay the superintendent $200,000 if it meant he could/would creatively balance the school budget and not hurt our students? If we can find that person, I say we buy them whatever car they want.
Nathan Frampton
Nitpicky ... small town politics and petty jealousy bs. Direct your efforts towards something else.
ReplyDeleteIt's has to be relatively easy to run schools in an affluent, well educated, values driven community. Let's put him in IPS and see what he brings to the table.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the people who feel the schools are so deserving and in need of the extra money ought to donate to the schools individually instead of pushing their wills upon others. Those in support of ZCS Yes should be happy to give voluntary donations, which I'm sure the schools would have no problem accepting.
ReplyDeleteFunny how Zionsville doesn't have enough money, when they are saving an absolute fortune on books. My senior year my book rental fee rivaled my undergraduate textbook costs, textbooks I actually got to keep! Zionsville was the only school district I've attended (I went to two different high schools in two other states) that didn't provide it own students with books... you know.. the most basic tools of leaning.
If Robison needs to drive his car around so much for work (and I don't doubt that he does - he does have multiple campuses to visit), he can deduct his mileage on his income taxes like the rest of us do.
ReplyDeleteAnd what of the laptops and health insurance offered to the school board trustees? Are we really supposed to believe that each of these citizens (for whose public service I am grateful - don't get me wrong) doesn't already have a computer at home, or a day job with health insurance?
In reality, had they put together a better proposal for a referendum, I would have gladly voted for it. Had they asked for the same amount of money and given the same reasons for it, but asked for it for 2 or 3 years instead of 7, I would have voted yes. But a 7-year referendum is not a bridge-loan to get us through tough times. A 7-year referendum is a way of life that can only be followed up by another referendum when it expires. I am angry at the school board and the administration for asking for more than they needed and leaving me with no alternative but to vote against it.