Sterling reports administrative costs of $1.4M

By Joseph Bustos 
jbustos@svnmail.com 
800-798-4085, ext. 529

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.