Lee School Board split over pay raise plan

The Florida Legislature now requires county school boards to set their own salaries for members elected in 2002 or later. A majority of districts heeded recommendations of the Florida School Board Association's compensation commission, which is advising Lee County board members to boost pay for its three newer board members from last year's mark of $33,914 to $34,697 for the upcoming year. Jeanne Dozier and Jane Kuckel, who were elected in 2000, still adhere to the state's former salary formula based on student enrollment and will automatically collect $34,697.

Board members Elinor Scricca and Steven Teuber said Thursday that opting to increase their own pay while considering program cuts or downsizing in other areas would reflect negatively on their leadership.

"We as the leaders here need to send out a message and gesture to the public at large that we are very cost-conscious," Scricca said. "The climate is fragile and the climate is frugal, and we need to keep the climate friendly."

The difference between maintaining the current salary and adopting FSBA's proposed salary is just $783, netting a savings for the three newer members of $2,349. Still, Teuber says, every dollar helps.

"We're squeezing every little grape to get more juice for the kids," Teuber said.

Dozier, who is guaranteed the higher figure, said she was "perfectly satisfied" with FSBA's recommendation, while Kuckel said she would not specify her preference until the board votes later this month. Newcomer Bob Chilmonik said he supports the small increase.

"It's very fair, and simply a cost-of-living adjustment," Chilmonik said.

Lee County teachers, support staff and administrators received average increases of about 4 percent for the 2003-04 school year, although dozens of experienced teachers received pay raises that hovered close to 1 percent because they had already reached the top of Lee's salary scale.

FSBA's proposed board member salary is slightly less than a Lee teacher with five years of experience would receive annually, but about $2,300 more than the organization is recommending for neighboring Collier County. Collier board members opted not to follow the recommendation last year, though, setting a salary of $30,583 instead of the proposed $31,563.

Lee School Board members will set a maximum salary amount at their Nov. 18 meeting, but board attorney Keith Martin said they will not officially determine their salaries until the subsequent meeting in December.