By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
The Groveport Madison Board of Education approved a new salary plan for its administrators.
The new plan adjusts the pay ranges for the district’s administrators and combines base pay with variables that recognize accomplishments.
According to district officials, the Educational Service Center had found the salaries for Groveport Madison’s administrative positions were among the lowest in Central Ohio.
“It is not, and never will be, our desire to offer the most generous compensation plans, but we need to be at least competitive to attract and retain high quality leaders. We want a progressive, incentive based compensation plan that will motivate our administrative leadership to grow personally and to achieve specific results for our students,” said Superintendent Bruce Hoover. “Even with this plan, our administrative compensation remains in the lower half of Central Ohio school districts.”
The plan does not apply to the superintendent or treasurer because these positions are contracted directly with the school board.
The new annual pay ranges compared to surrounding school districts (Canal Winchester, Columbus, South-Western, Gahanna, Hamilton, Pickerington, and Reynoldsburg) and Groveport Madison’s previous pay ranges are as follows:
•deputy superintendent – surrounding districts: $123,000 to $142,000; new GM range: $108,000 to $124,000;
•directors – surrounding districts: $101,100 to $128,000; previous GM range: $104,351 to $114,189; new GM range: $104,351 to $119,384;
•coordinators – surrounding districts: $94,000 to $118,000; previous GM range: $79,238 to $86,715; new GM range: $84,600 to $103,000;
•chief technology officer – surrounding districts: $93,000 to $116,000; previous GM range: $50,082 to $60,815; new GM range: $84,600 to $103,000;
•chief communications officer – surrounding districts: $80,000 to $135,730; new GM range: $80,000 to $118,000;
•supervisors – surrounding districts: $51,000 to $68,000; previous GM range: $50,082 to $60,815; new GM range: $50,082 to $68,000;
•elementary principal – surrounding districts: $88,000 to $110,000; previous GM range: $89,826 to $98,269; new GM range: $89,826 to $102,741;
•middle school principal – surrounding districts: $98,000 to $119,000; previous GM range: $91,794 to $100,452; new GM range: $91,794 to $107,163;
•high school principal – surrounding districts: $112,000 to $131,000; previous GM range: $101,024 to $110,575; new GM range: $101,024 to $117,880;
•assistant high school principal – surrounding districts: $80,000 to $109,000; previous GM range: $89,147 to $97,554; new GM range: $89,147 to $101,993.
Hurd named deputy superintendent
The school board approved the hiring of John Hurd as the district’s new deputy superintendent effective Aug. 1.
Hurd’s annual salary will be $119,500 and his contract will be for three years.
Hurd will oversee district operations including human resources, student services, maintenance, buildings and grounds, transportation, technology, and construction projects.
Groveport Madison Communications Officer Jeff Warner said the deputy superintendent position is not a newly created position. It is an existing position that has been unfilled since Hoover moved up from deputy superintendent to superintendent a few years ago.
“Having a deputy superintendent allows the superintendent to focus on academic achievement, which is an area of critical need for the district,” said Warner.
Hurd has been with the district since 2010 and has served as an assistant high school principal, middle school principal, and director of student services.
“This move is part of a larger effort to realign responsibilities within the administrative office, which are aimed at streamlining our operation and improving customer service,” said Hoover.
GPA eligibility requirement
The school board is reviewing the district’s grade point average requirements for students’ eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities. Currently students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 to be eligible to participate.
“We’re not interested in lowering standards,” said Hoover. “But do we have the right system that helps students find their way back?”
Among neighboring schools, Columbus requires a 2.0 GPA for participation in extracurricular activities while Canal Winchester requires a 1.65, Hamilton Township a 1.5, and Pickerington a 1.75.
According to Hoover, last year 41 out of 600 Groveport Madison students participating in extracurriculars were ruled academically ineligible.
Board member Bryan Shoemaker said that number does not include students who did not even attempt to try out for extracurricular activities because of their GPA.
“I want every student to get straight A’s,” said Shoemaker. “But we’re missing an opportunity to help and connect with youths who would benefit the most from after school guidance and interaction with their peers and adults.”
Speaking at the July 13 board meeting, district resident Doris Nelson opposed revising the GPA requirement stating, “Will students be able to handle the expectations of the world once they leave school or will they expect the bar to be lowered for them? Now is the time to raise, not deflate, the hopes and dreams for students. I hope we take the high road.”
The board is reviewing several different options on how to approach GPA requirements for extracurricular participation as well as taking a look at the district’s grading practices and grading scales. The earliest any potential changes could be made would be the 2017-18 school year.
Unbelievable Rick!