Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Administrators in the Steamboat Springs School District still do not know what their salaries and benefits will be next year.

The Steamboat Springs School Board met in executive, or secret, session Wednesday night to discuss administrators' compensation, but failed to take any action following the closed-door meeting.

"What we have done is we have directed (Superintendent) Donna (Howell) to come up with a couple of different proposals for directors and administrators salaries," said School Board President Denise Connelly.

The School Board will meet at 4 p.m. Monday at the School Administration Building to review Howell's proposals. Connelly said all administrators will get at least a 1 percent raise.

Steamboat Springs High School Assistant Principal Kevin Taulman told the board he is bothered by inconsistencies in developing administrative packages when compared to the recently approved compensation packages for certified and support staff.

"It just concerns me that when I found out about the comparisons with the other districts," Taulman said.

The board used a list of nine comparative districts for teachers. Those districts, which include Aspen, Summit County and Cherry Creek, all are in high cost of living areas. But in developing administrator pay packages, the board asked for data on four new districts - Eagle County, Alamosa, Florence and Durango. Alamosa and Florence are areas with significantly lower costs of living than Steamboat.

"I understand trying to compare those schools with our size, but I just think it's fair that if we compare teachers to those nine or 10 districts, I'd like to see some consistency across the board with administrators as well," he said. "In looking at those other districts that you requested information for, I hope you are taking into consideration the cost of living index."

Connelly said not all of the districts used in developing teacher pay make good comparables to use in developing administrator pay and benefits.

"What we are trying to do is have rationale and not have an across the board type of thing," she said. "We are looking at our (nine) comparison districts we have with teachers. To compare our administrators with those in Cherry Creek isn't valid, so we asked for some information for some of the smaller districts that are around our size."

Education Fund Board President Robin Crossan told the board she was upset the meeting was held in secret session.

"I realize what you are discussing in private, confidentially in the back, is very touchy information," said Crossan, who noted administrative salaries already have been made public. "It's as touchy for you folks to talk about as it is for the public to know about. I'd like to understand why your conversations can't be made in public."