Secret 8% Pay Raise Sparks Outcry: SASD Shuts Out Public Input

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This upcoming Tuesday, September 12th, the Sheboygan Area School District (SASD) School Board may approve a 4% pay raise with an additional 4% salary stipend for employees of the SASD. This 8% pay raise is on a Committee of the Whole agenda, which prevents any public input on the matter. This is a significant expenditure for the district and involves taxpayer dollars. Should taxpayers have a chance to share their input?

The SASD had a Board meeting on August 22nd where there was an opportunity for public input. This opportunity was clouded in secrecy in that the agenda item was for a closed session that stated, “To deliberate strategies to address specific issues pertaining to collective bargaining for teachers.” Take Back Sheboygan County has received insight that some, if not all members of the school board, were kept in the dark on the breakdown in negotiations between the SASD and the Sheboygan Educators Association (SEA) which is the formal name of the teachers’ union.

Board Agenda August 22: https://www.sheboygan.k12.wi.us/perch/resources/reg-brd-agenda-08-22-23-1.pdf

Take Back Sheboygan County discovered concerns over SEA by district leadership prior to this meeting. Seth Harvatine expressed concerns to Board members over the SEA’s activity in the negotiation process. Harvatine normally does not comment on matters like this but felt compelled to voice concerns over the SEA during the negotiation.

Harvatine was made aware of an email that SEA sent only to its members that included false information. The false information revolved around the August 22 Board meeting and stated that the administration will be presenting information to the Board on salary negotiations during the open session. That was untrue based on the posted agenda reference previously.

The second lie from the SEA stated that there is a likelihood that the Board will impose a pay cut on the teachers unless SEA members show up in solidarity.

It was also uncovered that Harvatine met extensively with the SEA President and was not made aware of this messaging by SEA. Harvatine then met with three SEA team leadership members, and they all stated they did not send the email with inaccurate information, and they would need to check on who sent that email to SEA members.

It was not until teachers began sharing in the public comment of the August 22 Board meeting that it was clear that the SASD was offering a 4% raise and the SEA was asking for an 8% raise. This clearly illustrates the SEA was lying to its members by stating the SASD would impose a pay cut.

Had this been clearly communicated in a transparent way by the SASD Board to stakeholders, you would have had an opportunity to share your opinion on the 8% raise in that meeting as well. The SASD Board of Education is leaving you out of the decision-making process and silencing you!

Several SASD staff members spoke about the challenges of inflation and providing for themselves and their families in today’s economy.

If the advocacy of the SEA is for teachers on the low end of the pay scale to receive a pay raise, why is the SEA lying to its members in their communication? If you are a teacher struggling to make a livable wage at around $40,000 a year and do legitimately deserve a pay raise, can you honestly look at your colleague making close to $80,000 a year and believe that they need and deserve the same raise as you?

The following SASD staff members spoke at the August 22nd meeting in support of an 8% pay increase.

Take Back Sheboygan County has retrieved their salary information from the following website: https://govsalaries.com/salaries/WI/sheboygan-area-school-district?jobTitle=Teacher#google_vignette

Jacki Grabowski: $42,785
Jazmine Blakley: $44,785
Christopher Kettles: $48,785
Lori Katte: $79,941
Robin Bollinger: Not Available
Scott Jelinek-Zittel: $78,533
Bill Meyer: $79,941
Rebecca Letter: $64,785
Penny Abstetar: $78,533
Stacy Wetzel: $61,785
Elizabeth Apostolik: $44,785
Lynn Gleue: $65,785

The pressure of inflation is real, and some of the stories shared by SASD staff members were sad and authentic. Take Back Sheboygan County supports a significant pay raise for some SASD teachers.

In reviewing the salaries of some staff members who spoke at the meeting, there are some concerns. Everyone is impacted by inflation. When you see someone making almost $80,000 a year voice concern over the impact of inflation and demand an 8% raise, it is tough to swallow. As a taxpayer, do you currently make close to $80,000 and plan on receiving an 8% raise from your employer this year?

The staff members making $42,000 a year should receive a significant pay raise. In the current economy, the cost of rent, childcare, food, and gasoline presents real challenges to living comfortably on close to $40,000 a year. Take Back Sheboygan County advocates for a significant raise for SASD employees on the low end of the pay scale.

The concern arises from the SASD strategically moving to pass the 8% raise in the dark, excluding taxpayers from any voice in the decision. There is also massive concern about an 8% raise across the board. That is not acceptable without the public and stakeholders like you having a voice in the process!

If the SASD staff members on the high end of the pay scale are advocating for this raise for the employees on the lower end of the scale, then they should decline the massive pay increase to afford the SASD the opportunity to increase pay for employees on the lower end in a fiscally responsible way. If this is about advocacy for an employee making close to $40,000 a year, then exclude the high-end pay scale employees from the massive raise!

This is not exact math but a general example of the impact this massive pay increase will have on the financial health of the SASD. The SASD annual budget is roughly $160 million. Salaries make up approximately 70% of the budget or $112 million. An 8% salary increase would cost the SASD $8.96 million this year. This is an estimate, and actual numbers could be requested from the district.

It would be more responsible for the SASD to provide stakeholders with an estimate of the fiscal impact of this massive raise. It would also be far more responsible to allow this discussion to take place in full transparency, during a general board meeting where there is an opportunity for public discussion. As a taxpayer or stakeholder in the SASD, do you want an opportunity to share your opinion on this massive pay raise?

The SASD School Board is eliminating you from this process! Board President Mary Lynn Donohue and Superintendent Seth Harvatine strategically placed this massive pay increase on the agenda of a meeting that does not allow public input to silence you!

The Board does not value your opinion or make any effort to seek your opinion as a stakeholder in the SASD. If you want an opportunity for your voice to be heard, you need to contact the SASD and the school board.

Demand an opportunity for public input! Demand that your voice is heard.

This is your tax dollars being spent without you having a seat at the table.

Email your concerns to SASD Leadership and the Board.

SASD Leadership:
Seth Harvatine-Superintendent, Email: sharvatine@sasd.net
Jake Konrath-Internal Incoming Superintendent, Email: jkonrath@sasd.net

Email your concerns to individual school board members:
Mary Lynne Donohue-President- mldonohue@sasd.net
Santino Laster-Vice President- slaster@sasd.net
Kay Robbins-Secretary- krobbins@sasd.net
Susan Hein- shein@sasd.net
Ryan Burg- rburg@sasd.net
Mark Mancl- mmancl@sasd.net
Sarah Ruiz-Harrison- sruizharrison@sasd.net
Rebecca Versey- rversey@sasd.net
Heidi Boehmer- hboehmer@sasd.net