Sterling reports administrative costs of $1.4M
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STERLING – Sterling Public Schools expects to have $1.4 million in administrative costs this school year, according to a salary and compensation report released this week.
Although the district tries to be competitive with other school districts, it is below some other area administrative salaries, school board Vice President Gonzalo Reyes said.
“When you compare salaries of our administration to those of Rock Falls and Dixon ... you’re going to find our salaries are lower than the rest of them,” Reyes said. “It’s a concern. You want to keep the top talent. People of this school district, they stay here, even though they don’t get paid as well as other places.”
Unit 5 has 14 administrators, spread over seven schools and the district office. There are about 3,600 students and 390 staff members.
Sara Dail, a first-year administrator, is student services director and part-time preschool principal at Wallace School.
Sterling High School Principal Jason Austin, Human Resources Director Jerry Binder, SHS Dean of Students Vicki Dunphy, and Dail are in their first year in those roles.
Eight administrators have district-issued Blackberries (mobile communications devices), which the district estimates will cost $10,165 this year. Sixty-five percent of that, however, is paid for through safety and technology grants.
Each administrator also receives $295 to pay dues for professional organizations such as the Illinois Principal Association and the Illinois Association of School Administrators.
None of the elementary schools has an assistant principal.
Under the terms of a new school salary and compensation report law that Gov. Pat Quinn signed in August, school districts must publish an itemized report of their administrators’ salaries.
The report must be presented at a school board meeting and posted on a district’s Web site by Oct. 1.
Districts must include how much they pay for bonuses, pension contributions, retirement increases, health insurance, life insurance, sick time, vacation time, contributions to annuities, and any other benefit the district pays on behalf of an administrator, such as training or conference expenses.
Sterling Public Schools information can be found at www.sterlingpublicschools.org online.
By the numbers
Tad Everett, superintendent
Salary: $126,792
Pension contributions: $16,020
Health insurance: $15,447
Life insurance: $922
Professional dues: $295
District cell phone: $1,284
Mileage allowance: $3,000
Jerry Binder, director of human resources
Salary: $98,277
Pension contributions: $12,418
Health insurance: $15,447
Life insurance: $376
Professional dues: $295
District cell phone: $1,284
Mileage allowance: $1,300
Jeff Hippen, director of technology
Salary: $78,412
Pension contributions: $9,907
Health insurance: $15,447
Life insurance: $288
Professional dues: $295
District cell phone: $1,284
Mileage allowance: $1,300
Sara Dail, student services director and part-time preschool principal at Wallace
Salary: $62,000 *
Pension contributions: $7,834
Health insurance: $15,447
Life insurance: $238
Professional dues: $295
District cell phone: $1,177
Mileage allowance: $1,300
Jason Austin, Sterling High School principal
Salary: $90,000
Pension contributions: $11,371
Health insurance: $15,447
Life insurance: $346
Professional dues: $295
District cell phone: $1,284
Mileage allowance: $100
Jessica Bicknell, SHS assistant principal
Salary: $62,100
Pension contributions: $7,847
Health insurance: $6,431
Life insurance: $230
Professional dues: $295
District cell phone: $1,284
Vicki Dunphy, SHS dean of students
Salary: $57,529 *
Pension contributions: $7,268
Health insurance: $15,447
Life insurance: $207
Professional dues: $295
Kathy Howard, Challand Middle School principal
Salary: $76,073
Pension contributions: $9,612
Health insurance: $15,447
Life insurance: $280
Professional dues: $295
District cell phone: $1,284
Mileage allowance: $100
Matt Birdsley, Challand assistant principal
Salary: $62,100
Pension contributions: $7,847
Health insurance: $15,447
Life insurance: $223
Professional dues: $295
District cell phone: $1,284
Chris Palmer, Challand dean of students
Salary: $66,833 *
Pension contributions: $8,444
Health insurance: $15,447
Life insurance: $238
Professional dues: $295
Andy Edmondson, Lincoln Elementary School principal
Salary: $66,758
Pension contributions: $8,435
Health insurance: $15,447
Life insurance: $246
Professional dues: $295
Mileage allowance: $100
Pat Fortney, Washington Elementary School principal
Salary: $73,216
Pension contributions: $9,251
Health insurance: $15,447
Life Insurance: $269
Professional dues: $295
Mileage allowance: $100
Suzi Hesser, Franklin Elementary School principal
Salary: $74,003
Pension contributions: $9,351
Health insurance: $15,447
Life insurance: $273
Professional dues: $295
Mileage allowance: $100
Ron Rick, Jefferson Elementary School principal
Salary: $72,155
Pension contributions: $9,117
Health insurance: $15,447
Life insurance: $269
Professional dues: $295
Mileage allowance: $100
* Denotes that part of the salary includes other duties outside of their administrative job, such as coaching.
**Assistant to the Superintendent Tim Schwingle handles finances for the district, but is not considered an administrator by the state and is exempt from the report. He is a certified public accountant, and cannot evaluate teachers.
