School Administrators Wages And Salaries

The UC Board of Regents on Friday decided to eliminate three of its nine meetings each year, but postponed any action on how to handle salaries until next month, so that Gov. Gray Davis can review proposals before the board. "The governor asked that we hold off," said John Davies, chairman of the Board of Regents, adding that he would abide by those wishes as a courtesy to the state's chief executive.

The UC Board of Regents today will consider raises of $20,000 or more for each of its nine chancellors and $40,000 apiece for senior vice presidents, all of whom make more than California's governor. Six-figure salaries are always a touchy topic at a public university, which receives an annual infusion of money from state taxpayers. Even so, the regents will also revisit the question of how much they, as defenders of the public purse, should be concerned about such salaries.

Cal State University Northridge President Blenda J. Wilson won a 5% raise Wednesday, bringing her annual salary to $181,752 but dropping her from fourth-highest to seventh among the 23 campus presidents. Wilson's salary increase was far below that of nearly all of her colleagues, more than half of whom were granted increases Wednesday ranging from 11% to 14% by the California State University trustees.

The Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Community College District on Wednesday granted a 12% salary increase over three years to top administrators, matching the scale of raises given previously to most of the district's union employees. The district refused, however, to divulge just what individual administrators are paid. The raises are retroactive to November 1996, meaning that most of those covered by the provision will receive a sizable lump sum to catch up.

The Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Community College District on Wednesday granted a 12% salary increase over about three years to some top administrators, matching the scale of raises given previously to most of the district's union employees. The district refused, however, to divulge exactly what individual administrators are paid. The raises are retroactive to November 1996, meaning that most of those covered by the provision will receive a sizable lump sum to catch up.

Responding to public outrage over a plan to give top Los Angeles school administrators their second raise this year, the Board of Education voted Monday to hold back the money until next July, and then make it contingent on proof of performance. After hashing out the pay package in closed session, the board members unanimously approved a revised plan requiring improvement in four of seven measures of student performance before the four top administrators receive a 6% raise.

A plan to give the top four Los Angeles school administrators their second pay increase this year--without any linkage to their performance--may have stalled under severe public opposition. The raises for Supt. Ruben Zacarias and his three top deputies, tipping the combined pay hikes they have won this year to an average of almost 36%, were tentatively approved two weeks ago by the Board of Education in a 4-3 vote taken behind closed doors.