Chapel Hill-Carrboro senior leadership declines bonuses

The senior leadership team of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools will not be receiving bonuses this year.

But they wanted it that way.

At the annual superintendent's evaluation last Thursday, superintendent Neil Pedersen, assistant superintendent for instructional services Denise Bowling, assistant superintendent for support services Todd LoFrese and chief technology officer Ray Reitz, petitioned the school board to forgo their annual bonuses in light of the economic downturn.

The senior leadership team was eligible to receive a bonus according to terms of their contract.

"You are eligible to receive a bonus of up to $12,000 for the satisfactory achievement of the priorities and goals. The partial accomplishment of the priorities and goals qualifies you for an award of a bonus," said school board chairwoman Lisa Stuckey.

But because of the economic considerations facing the school system, from teachers to the custodians, the board agreed with the senior leadership team's request.

"I appreciate the School Board's evaluation of my performance and its recognition of the progress that the district made last year. We had many successes that I attribute to the incredible staff in our schools and central office. I declined the bonus that my contract calls for due to the financial position of the district and the fact that other employees received no salary increases and incentive bonuses. We're all in this together," Pederson said.