School Board Approves Raises; Superintendent Receives $16,413

By MARILYN BROWN The Tampa Tribune

Published: Aug 22, 2007

TAMPA - The Hillsborough School Board officially approved raises for all employees Tuesday night, the biggest going to Superintendent MaryEllen Elia despite poor reviews from two of her seven bosses.

Elia's annual review was released Tuesday, shortly before the board voted to extend her contract until July 2010.

Board members expressed shock and anger at the low marks given Elia by April Griffin, in her first year as a board member, and Susan Valdes, in her third year on the board. The women are close friends and sometimes vote on the opposite side of the majority.

"It blew my mind," Board Chairman Jack Lamb later said, describing his reaction. "I don't know where it's coming from."

In the nine areas rated, Griffin gave Elia bottom scores of 1 on a scale of 1 to 5 for both policy and governance and communications and community relations. Griffin's other scores were all 2s except for a 4 in instructional leadership. She included detailed comments criticizing Elia for a rigid, unyielding demeanor.

"Behind closed doors, if her mind is made up, there is little chance of changing her position," Griffin wrote. Later she said, "I'm tired of MaryEllen's way or the highway."

Valdes gave Elia scores of 2s and 3s with few comments. Later she said, "These are honest remarks. My comments may be brief - I'm working very hard to be succinct."

"At first I was the outcast," Valdes said. "Now April and I are. I don't feel so much alone."

Lamb, Jennifer Faliero, Carol Kurdell and Candy Olson all gave Elia top scores of 4s and 5s in all areas, although Olson's comments included criticism that Elia emphasizes state testing too much. She said Elia "needs to recognize that she and her staff often do not have the best answer - they may not even be asking the right question."

Olson told the board, "It boggles my mind to see some of these evaluations" because the district is recognized for its high quality. She said the board has "some real disconnects," and that some board members may not understand the differing roles of the superintendent and board members.

Board members agreed to "talk through" their differences at Tuesday's 10 a.m. workshop meeting.

Elia said after the meeting that she was "disappointed," but "I had five board members I felt made very positive, useful comments."

Faliero offered praise during the meeting, saying Elia has "done an excellent job. You're recognized nationally."

Elia's base salary was increased to $252,913 - a $16,413 raise from her base last year. She will also receive numerous bonuses based mainly on student achievement, which brought her an extra $48,240 last year. It took months for the district to calculate the extra pay last year. When they did, her annual income totaled $284,744.

District administrators are getting an average of 5.5 percent raises. Elia's top staff, all at the top of the pay scale, will get 3.25 percent raises plus $1,000, district spokesman Steve Hegarty said.

Employees represented by unions voted approval in advance of the board's final vote. Teachers are getting an average 8 percent increase. Bus drivers and other blue-collar workers, educational support personnel and nonrepresented employees are averaging 6 percent. Substitute teachers are getting 4 percent.

A beginning teacher with a bachelor's degree now will make $37,112 a year. Bus drivers with the least experience will make $10.15 to $10.55 an hour.

In other action, the board:

•Approved buying Temple Heights Christian School and Church, 8406 N. 46th St., for a new elementary school if a contract can be negotiated.

The proposed price is $4 million, although appraisals are at $7 million and $7.9 million, according to Cathy Valdes, the district's chief facilities officer. The district plans to remodel the building and open an elementary school in August 2008 serving students now assigned to Pizzo, Witter and Shaw.

•Approved Shirley Harvey, assistant principal at Gary Adult School since 2006, as principal, effective today.

Reporter Marilyn Brown can be reached at (813) 259-8069 or mbrown@tampatrib.com.