Monday, April 26, 2010

MSD Decatur's New CFO - Salary on the Rise

Bob Harris was hired to overlap with the departing Jeff Baer as Assistant Superintendent of Business for the Decatur Township School District. At the time, Don Stinson, Superintendent of the District, told the Mooresville-Decatur Times that Harris would be paid $15,000 less than Baer; yet another cost cutting measure implemented by the phenomenal Don Stinson.

As I reported in an earlier blog entry ("Most Administrators Saw Increase in Salary and/or Benefits"), the actual difference in salaries, according to documents the District submitted to the State Board of Accounts, was $11,500.

Well, the gap is closing. The limited contract information received by a private citizen who requested the records (see "Jeff Baer Without a Contract Since 2006 - Really?"), and which they provided to me, shows that in February Bob Harris managed to get a raise.

The public document provided for the Harris contract was a 'Contract Worksheet' covering pay periods 2/12 through 6/30 2010. The annualized salary is now $130,533. What the SBOA document showed was an annualized salary of $128,927. So, congratulations go out to Bob Harris, who now makes only $9,936 less than Baer. Can't wait to see what his next contract looks like !

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

So what? It's legal.

Anonymous said...

SO WHAT? IT'S LEGAL? Yea, but that is not point. It is not moral nor is it right when Stinson lays off teachers while giving big pay raises to Administrators. It is Obvious that Stinson has shown very poor management skills in Decatur. It is an INSULT to the TAXPAYERS and TEACHERS when he gives his friends big fat paycheck by ripping off the school. Students and Teachers are first priority, Don Stinson knows this but HE DOES NOT CARE! Its ME, MYSELF, AND I to Stinson. Oh, and don't forget Jeff Baer, Susan Adams, and Gary Pellico along with this PROBLEM!

Anonymous said...

could this be why ALL except I think (one) of the part time police officers have moved on to a different school district?????? even Larry Taylor a ex-school board member and IMPD reserve police officer works at a different township school must be a sign. Decatur is the lowest paying school district for part time officers plus No raises for 5 years for them cause there was no money!!! yet everyone else gets a pay raise
I guest everyone is right they only care about themself, no subport for the teachers, students or the support staff and to think they are still thinking of getting rid of the 2nd shift officer just to save themself 50,000, hey people get real

Anonymous said...

Our Schools need protection from professionally trained Police Officers, NOT some untrained rinky dink Security Guards. Does anybody remember the Columbine High School? It will happen in Anywhere, USA. What will they say when innocent people, Student,Teachers, Patrons, Employees are killed by some Nut!
Columbine was a wake-up call! If the School district doe not want to be next, they should think twice or there will be hell to pay from Taxpayers. Our safety in the school district are important!

Anonymous said...

The School Polices in all the school district are our children protection. God bless them.

Had Enough Indy? said...

anon 9:59 - It matters because the public has a right to be fully and accurately informed.

That is not happening in this instance, it didn't happen when the former Concentra building was purchased, it didn't happen when the extent of central office cuts was claimed, and it didn't happen when the retirements for RIFs was announced - just to name a few instances.

It might be legal, but it still matters.

Anonymous said...

Look; salaries are high at Decatur because we get the best. We got the best teachers and best administrators. You get what you pay for so why all the drama? There is nothing that is being done illegally in decatur township. it's all above board and this website is blowing stuff all out of proportion. i think we got the best of the best so leave it alone.

Had Enough Indy? said...

anon 2:55 - so if we pay more they'll get even better?

The fact that they purchased property without the required appraisals was illegal. The fact that they entered into a lease over 10 years was illegal. The fact that the Board does not approve or sign contracts is illegal. The fact that bids on contracts are not opened or recorded at a public meeting of the Board is illegal.

The fact that the bus drivers are being treated unfairly is not what most Decaturites would want (IMHO). Closing Lynwood as an elementary school instead of taking care of the mold problem at the ECC, preferring that class size rises, suggests that these folks aren't as great as you assume. Choosing to lay off teachers instead of selling excess property, and again letting class size rise as a result, only reinforces that point.

I could go on, but its all documented in the various entries and comments on this blog.

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:55

Don't think it is "all above board" to cause great increases in class size when it is due to the mismanagement of public funds. The public has been very patient and many have asked only for facts. The local school districts (the taxpayers), according to state officials, must "take care of the oversight of public funds." The actions of this superintendent and board speak very loudly for the need for change.

Anonymous said...

You have NO proof that anything was done illegally. if all these things were done illegally as you claim, then there would be something done about it. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE so there is nothing illegal done! give it a break and be more positive. our administration and school board have done nothing wrong.

Had Enough Indy? said...

anon 4:04 - actually you are incorrect. Unfortunately, there are no penalties tied to the laws that they have broken, except for the one requiring submission of Form 100R to the State Board of Accounts by the end of January every year.

They have indeed done things that are wrong, and indeed some of those things are illegal.

Anonymous said...

Look; salaries are high at Decatur because we get the best.
YES AND THE BEST END UP LEAVING FOR OTHER DISTRICTS, THEY SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL AND THEY DON'T WANT ANY PART OF IT.

We got the best teachers and best administrators. You get what you pay for so why all the drama?
ARE YOU KIDDING? ANY TEACHER ABOVE 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE DID NOT GET A RAISE, YET THEY STILL WORK JUST AS HARD. THEY ARE PROFESSIONALS AND CHOOSE TO TRULY DO WHAT IS BEST FOR CHILDREN. LETS JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO TEST SCORES AFTER ALL OF THE SHUFFELING.

There is nothing that is being done illegally in decatur township. MAYBE NOT ILLEGAL BUT WITH OUT A DOUBT IT IS IMMORAL. STINSON SHOULD BE CALLED MADOFF....HE IS DOING ALL THE SAME THINGS JUST IN A DIFFERENT ARENA. TEACHERS RIFFED, SECRETARIES LOSE JOBS, BUS DRIVERS HARRASSED, AND PARENTS WILL LEARN WHERE THEIR CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL ON THE LAST MONDAY.


this website is blowing stuff all out of proportion. THIS WEB SITE HAS BEEN A BLESSING

Anonymous said...

All the Members on the School Board are nothing but Stinson's "YES Men".

Anonymous said...

After reading Stinson's memo regarding the General Fund Summary of Expenditure report I studied these reports again using Stinson's rationale. IF there was a "misunderstanding" of what was to be reported on which expense line there is still a great discrepancy between what Decatur spends on administraation and what other Marion County districts spend.

For example, add the general administration $ for central office and building offices together. For Decatur the total is $5,986,888 and divide by total expenditures of $39,303,783. The result is Decatur spent 15% on administration. For Perry Township it is $6,964,379 divided by $94,716,918 or 7% spent on administration.

FACT: The Stinson memo does not make sense.

FACT: The business office does not know how to accurately complete required state reports.

FACT: The general public has many reasons to ask questions.