The Kings Park Board of Education agreed to raises for 12 administrative employees, including the superintendent and two assistant superintendents, at Tuesday evening’s meeting.
The raises largely included members of the district office staff with the raises ranging from .5 percent to 2 percent.
“The central office staff are not members of a bargaining unit. Each year the board must take action if there is to be a change or an increase,” said Kings Park District Superintendent, Susan Agruso.
According to Agruso, there has been a pay freeze on the central office staff since 2009. The Kings Park Classroom Teachers Association has been without a contract since June 2011, but in accordance with the New York State Triborough Amendment, still receive benefits and step increases according to the expired contract.
Agruso said about $40,000 had been saved due to changes in personnel that did not take place and that part of that savings had been used for raises.
Transportation supervisor Steven Lee received a five percent increase, which Agruso said was a salary adjustment and would bring him more in line with a salary of that position in other districts.
The board voted unanimously on all but two of the increases, with trustee Liz Barrett opposing raises for Agruso and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Personnel, Ralph Cartisano, both of whom received raises of 1.7 percent.
"It wasn't in the budget," said Barrett. "During the budget process they had said they would not be taking raises."
"I felt the extra money should go to the sutdents," said Barrett.
A copy of the 2012-2013 school budget as well as salary and raises for the 12 employees, can be found in the photo section of this story.
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