Friday, August 18, 2006
Huntley School Administrators Received Unauthorized Compensation
Lauren Smith, Director of Human Resources, stated Tuesday night that contracts for selected administrators—at least six—have been receiving compensation in addition to the amount specified in their contracts.
We’re talking an extra $5,400 a year that is just a gift.
Recipients and board members call it a “benefit.”
The problem is that the administrators’ contracts spell out all of their benefits and this one has not been included in the past.
How can that happen?
Without board authorization?
Long-time board members agreed in open session that the practice had not been approved in public, but that they knew it was going on.
This year, there apparently was a board vote.
So, is the money paid without board authorization in the past going to be repaid?
What if it were approved in secret executive sessions?
My understanding of the Open Meetings Act is that when government like a school district spends money, it has to have a public vote?
So, how did this start?
Apparently, District 158 administrators' fringe benefits are top of the line.
Unlike state governments, all dependents of school district administrators get fully-paid medical, dental and vision benefits.
Ordinary employees like teachers and office workers don’t.
So, what happens if two members of an administrator’s family work for the Huntley School District?
The spouse already has health benefits.
Isn’t that unfair?
Apparently, someone thought so.
It seems that the $5,400 a year paid to the administrators is “in lieu of” the benefits that their dependents would have gotten, if they had not also been school district employees.
What a gravy train.
The spouses might not even have jobs if their spouses were not district administrators.
And, the district apparently dosen’t even know how many people got this superlative fringe benefit.
No wonder new superintend John Burkey was so adamant that fringe benefits be included in any forensic audit of payroll.
Will the money be repaid?
We’re talking an extra $5,400 a year that is just a gift.
Recipients and board members call it a “benefit.”
The problem is that the administrators’ contracts spell out all of their benefits and this one has not been included in the past.
How can that happen?
Without board authorization?
Long-time board members agreed in open session that the practice had not been approved in public, but that they knew it was going on.
This year, there apparently was a board vote.
So, is the money paid without board authorization in the past going to be repaid?
What if it were approved in secret executive sessions?
My understanding of the Open Meetings Act is that when government like a school district spends money, it has to have a public vote?
So, how did this start?
Apparently, District 158 administrators' fringe benefits are top of the line.
Unlike state governments, all dependents of school district administrators get fully-paid medical, dental and vision benefits.
Ordinary employees like teachers and office workers don’t.
So, what happens if two members of an administrator’s family work for the Huntley School District?
The spouse already has health benefits.
Isn’t that unfair?
Apparently, someone thought so.
It seems that the $5,400 a year paid to the administrators is “in lieu of” the benefits that their dependents would have gotten, if they had not also been school district employees.
What a gravy train.
The spouses might not even have jobs if their spouses were not district administrators.
And, the district apparently dosen’t even know how many people got this superlative fringe benefit.
No wonder new superintend John Burkey was so adamant that fringe benefits be included in any forensic audit of payroll.
Will the money be repaid?
Labels: Fringe Benefits, Huntley School District 158, Loren Smith, Non-Cash Fringe Benefits, Open Meetings Act
Comments:
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what I do not understand is that the Board would approve and sign contracts every year wouldn't they? so if the board saw the contracts year after year, what happened? Again, what else do the board members say that they do not know about, but they reviewed it and did have it. boy, this all seems strange.
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