Morris' highest paid college student?

As reported by the Morris Daily Herald, Teri Shaw has resigned from the District 54 school board, and has been hired on as a "district administrator" at a salary of $65,000. The following year, the job title will morph into "superintendent" with a salary boost to $90,000. The third year, the salary jumps to $135,000. On top of this, the district has agreed to pay for Teri to finish her MBA and obtain her superintendent credentials at an estimated cost of $22,000. Presumably, she will also receive insurance and retirement benefits.

A remarkable perk is that Terri is apparently not required to actually be present during the day to perform her job duties. (How could she with so many classes to attend?). As reported by the MDH,

Current District 54 Interim Superintendent Dr. Dennis Broniecki said he will continue to serve in his part-time position for the one year remaining on his contract, during which time he will mentor Shaw and continue to serve the district during the day.

Shaw's hours will be more flexible, he said, as she works to get her degree and certification. Her new position as district administrator will be full-time, but will be performance-based, rather than having set hours.

This is quite a generous arrangement for someone who has never held a job in school administration, and has no credentials for the job.

On the other hand, maybe a more business-like approach is just what the doctor ordered. Indeed, it appears that there have been substantial cost savings achieved under Shaw's leadership. It is, at the very least, refreshing that any elected official is conscious of the concept of fiscal responsibility, even when that means eliminating some desired services. Perhaps the board's action will be viewed as a shrewd move toward a more fiscally accountable school district.

I suspect however, that the public will view this decision as self-serving for Shaw, and very irresponsible by the board.

The cookie jar has again proven to be just too tempting.


MDH article