I did not see the story to which Enough is Enough refers (but did not link to). The only stories I have seen in the Journal accurately reported his current salary of $111K and that his new salary after promotion to superintendent will be $126K. I negotiated and signed his contract (which was provided to the Journal) and can tell you that there is no annual increase built into the contract. There is a provision that after each year, the base salary can be negotiated. This same clause is in the current superintendent's contract, but he has not had an increase during the 3 years of his contract (in fact, he took the 1% reduction that all employees did).

 

The car allowance is to cover the cost of owning, maintaining and fueling a car.  The superintendent drives between the administrative offices and 1 or more of the 7 school buildings on almost a daily basis, sometimes multiple times a day, for meetings, classroom observations, assemblies, athletic events, concerts, etc etc. Plus, he is expected to attend community and charitable meetings and events that may also be on nights and weekends. In other words, the superintendent needs a car to do his job, not just to commute to his job.

 

Marcia Andrew

If he can continue the turnaround of this system, then he is well worth the price.

jmo

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Can you explain why you did not ask The Journal to retract/clarify  Ison's new salary?  If it was not correct, I would think you would want it clarified immediately in the paper, not a week later on this forum.  Would you please tell us about the $12,000 plus adjustment per year that the paper said he would be receiving and you say he is not receiving?  Thank you.  Also, would you please explain exactly what a $500/month car allowance is spent  on?  Thank you.

 

I do not know the law as it applies to city, county or state government. All I know is that a school district can legally require its superintendent and treasurer to live within the school district, as part of an individually negotiated contract. Might not be true for other school employees.

 

Marcia Andrew

I thought is was illegal in Ohio to require a city or governement employee to move to the city he or she is working in.  Is the school district exempt from this law?

Pacman

Thank you for the clarification, once again the Middletown Journal got it wrong.

 

Sam Ison's current salary, as Director of Instructional Leadership, is $111,599. He took the same 1% pay reduction as the teachers and all other employees, including administrative staff.

 

His salary will increase to $126,000 next school year (July 2013 to June 2014) because he is being promoted to Superintendent, with substantially more responsibility.  It is a two-year contract and there is no built-in increase in salary the second year.  This is less than the current superintendent is making.

 

His contract includes a $500/month car allowance. This covers all travel within the district; he will not be paid a mileage reimbursment for such travel. This rate is less than the current superintendent receives for a car allowance.

 

The district has always (at least over the last 10 years) required that the superintendent live in the district. If an employer requires an employee to move for the job, then it is reasonable for the employer to reimburse the employee for the cost of moving.

 

Marcia Andrew

I am sure that the teachers you provided this service for were very grateful. It is true that the school supply list has grown. The supplies on that list are being used by the students. The percentage of students who actually bring what is on the list is very low.

I have on numerous occasions volunteered for school activities even though I did not have a child in that school. It is disheartening to see these kids put there heart and soul into something and get no parental support at all. The district has student led conferences in some of the schools. Students get a chance to show their parents what they are doing in school. It is also a chance for parents to meet and talk to their child's teachers. The number of parents who show up for this activity is probably around 20%. But if you ask the district I am sure they will have a much higher number. Sad.

Teachers have been taking money out their own pockets for school supplies since I was in the 2nd grade (49 yrs ago).  Now every year you get a list of school supplies from paper towels to hand cleaner to Kleenex ect, ect.  When I owned my business prior to becoming disabled I gave free copies to many teachers who came and stated they need X# of copies for their class room projects and didn't want to go through red tape necessary through the school system to get them.  I was happy to provide this service to the teachers. 

As long as Ison is doing school business I have no problem with his gas being paid for by MCSD.  If it is true that he just fills up at the bus depot maybe to satifiy Middletown Residents who have a problem with this, then the school board should require Mr Ison to pay for the gas out of pocket and keep a milage sheet for school business miles and then reimburse him monthly.  They would need set a per mile gas rate that would be paid to him.  For example .45 cents per mile is typical in most businesses that cover gas milage for their employees.