The school board will be busy behind closed doors on Tuesday wrapping up Superintendent Del Burns' annual evaluation.
Under his contract, Burns gets an automatic 3-percent raise every year. But if the board doesn't complete his annual evaluation by Aug. 31, he's entitled to an additional increase that would be be equal, this year, to 3 percent.
Rosa Gil, chairwoman of the school board, expects the board to decide what new offer to make to Burns on Tuesday. If he agrees, the new terms will be announced at a future board meeting.
Last year, Burns' contract was extended through June 30, 2011. He also got a 5-percent raise that lifted his base salary to $262,500, not including at least $36,670 in additional benefits.
Click here for Burns' contract. Click here for the amendment approved last year.
Comments
Dr. Burns' contract
Sun, 08/24/2008 - 09:09 — logic? (not verified)If Dr. Burns is entitled to a raise if his annual evaluation is not completed by August 31, does that mean that Wake County employees are entitled to a raise if they do not receive their evaluation before the start of the new school year?
What is the protocol for employees who receive no evaluation for 3-4 years, (previous evaluations over a 12 year period have been excellent to outstanding) then are threatened with and given a below standard evaluation along with a verbal beating that could be described as "defamation of character"?
Completely arbitrary, I'm afraid
Sun, 08/24/2008 - 10:27 — Dadof3The answer lies in "how many ribbons have you collected for your social engineering prowess?" "Have you effectively taught the fundamentals of your subject?" does not advance the utopia that WCPSS, and their ribbon-awarding buddies far away, seek, and our BoE(eR) enable.
Seriously, 3 - 4 years without a performance evaulation is completely unacceptable for any profession. I wish you all the best in correcting that situation.
superintendant contract
Sun, 08/24/2008 - 12:34 — Anonymous (not verified)Dadof3
The answer,if you want to keep your job, is to stay under the radar and do what you are told.
Similar situation happened a couple years ago. The employee stood up for professional ethics and what was best for the students. By the end of the year, the transfer request, approved in February was no longer an option. The person was given a choice of returning to a school under a administrator who was bent on having that person fired or resigning with a useless evaluation. They were told they could reapply as an outsider. Essentially they were fired and blacklisted.
I heard they contacted Del Burns who essentially told them Have a nice life.
Cant afford to have that happen to me.
The best offer - fire him
Tue, 08/19/2008 - 08:32 — Anonymous (not verified)IMHO, based on all WCPSS results the best offer is to fire him.
So Bob - Why do we need an educator in this job?
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 15:00 — Voice_of_Reason_After all he does not teach. It is more of a CEO than an educator job. I think a person should be familiar with education rules but more important a person must be able to lead, make decisions, and be financially savy. The principals and asst superintendents can advise. This may sound like a crazy idea, but remember my prism is the military, where leadership is more important than knowing the nuts and bolts about what you manage. I have seen to many fine leaders come into a job without knowing the nuts and bolts and in a short time make significant improvements. His job is not to start a school system, but to keep it running and improve it. IMHO the main reason that it remains an educator, is because educators do the hiring. Just think, do you need someone educated in public planning to be governor, or even president. Yes I know I have a different paradigm, but am I too far in left field here, set me straight.
Because they're, welll, uh... Maybe we don't.
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 17:13 — Bob_SconceA CEO should know his industry. But, I agree that a lot of that knowledge can be gained on-the-job. The current CEO of GlaxoSmithKline has a BA in Economics, not Chemistry or Biology. The current CEO of Lenovo has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, not electircal engineering or Computer Science. The new Red Hat CEO has a C.S. degree, but came from Delta Airlines.
I see no reason that the superintendent should have an education background. (Well, we *all* have education backgrounds.) But, that shouldn't disqualify them either -- Burn's education experience and experience in WCPSS are surely assets in his job.
Those assets are a two-edge sword
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 18:02 — Voice_of_Reason_Yes it is true that knowledge about what you do makes your job easier BUT... remember a great deal of his job has nothing to do with education. Also the fact that he was "in-bred" in WCPSS makes his experience very narrowly focused and less likely to recognize problems. He also has a lots of friends w/in the administration. That is also not good. That is why the Air Force changes out Wing Commanders every three years because they see things with fresh eyes and less likely to form close personal friendships with the people they command. You made some good local examples in the corporate world... so I see you don't think I'm an idiot.
Hardly
Tue, 08/19/2008 - 01:33 — Bob_SconceHow could you be an idiot? You're the voice of reason.
Amazing
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 13:06 — Voice_of_Reason_Exactly what does he do that is worth almost $300K a year? There are tons of PhD's, medical doctors, and high level government officials that don't make this much. Does he provide a world class product? Does he perform better than any other superintendent? Does he make money for the schools? Is he really a great leader? They justify his pay by saying Char-Meck super makes more? Well ask yourself what would happen if he left. Do you really think that position even needs an educator in charge? I guess my dissatisfaction should be turned to the lottery commissioner, the only person on the public payroll not in a University that makes more in this county. Yes universities, do pay more, but their is money in research grants and athletics that doesn't exist at K-12. Why don't we put things in perspective.
And trust me on this one folks, it's not class envy on my part that is saying this. I would not care if it wasn't public money.
Eh...
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 14:12 — Bob_SconceWell, there's the need to keep him here -- if the district paid its superintendents, say $100K/yr, they'd be hired away several times a year. Since it takes a while to get adjusted to the job, this would be a bad thing. I don't know if $300K is the right price, but it's in the ballpark of what I'd expect (my "Ballpark" is $200,000 to $500,000).
Now, having read his contract, it seems to me that it doesn't provide the right incentives. If I were on the school board, I would consider structuring it so that a big chunk of the compensation is an annual bonus based on test results. If students do really well, then pay him $400K. If they do poorly, pay him $200K. As-is, his only incentive is to keep the school board happy so he gets 5% instead of 3%. Since the board seems to be happiest when Wake County gets good national press, guess where he spends his time?
Good Answer Bob
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 22:08 — Lisa_BHi Bob:
I completely agree. Tie compensation to performance. If there is no incentive to do a better job, someone can become awfully complacent.
I would also like to see "customer satisfaction" addressed too. Test scores are extremely important---after all, a school system is supposed to be in the business of educating.
However, when the customers' (families') needs / input / suggestions are being ignored, I think that should be looked at as failing one of the duties of the school system.
Is it too much to ask for WCPSS to teach our children well AND keep families together too?
Correct
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 15:36 — pmif the district paid its superintendents, say $100K/yr, they'd be hired
away several times a year. Since it takes a while to get adjusted to
the job, this would be a bad thing. I don't know if $300K is the right
price, but it's in the ballpark of what I'd expect (my "Ballpark" is
$200,000 to $500,000).
And then
If I were on the school board, I would consider structuring it so that
a big chunk of the compensation is an annual bonus based on test
results.
Well said!
So he gets $750/month .....
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 11:05 — shearertwSo he gets $750/month reimbursement for traveling around the county but teachers who are required to travel between schools during the day do not get gas money?
And they(teachers) also do
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 11:22 — choice4allAnd they(teachers) also do not get compensated for time before or after school for Student Support Services/ IEP meetings and so on....Those services that they provide are all done without being paid. Those meetings always occur before/after school. What an insult to deny, once again, teacher raises but give Burns a slap on the back and give him a 3% raise...... I thought the good stewards of our money were budget cutting? (eyes rolling)
7875
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 10:05 — Dadof3That is 3% of 262500. Not bad, doctor.
Here's a humble suggestion: Show some largess and give a $1500 bonus to 5 of your best teachers and splurge the balance on a nice lunch for your academically top-performing 5 principals. They're the ones EARNING it. Then go collecting your stinking ribbons using your T&E expense budget. ($750/month) Bring your resume with you; those fools should just hire you.
BoE(eR) -- show some restraint. The good doctor is killing community support. I don't see the benefit in the metrics. We could do much better for less. Don't be "money cures all" fools -- do the right thing, for a freakin' change.
Ron M -- bring your wheaties, gatoraide and some protein drink. I might add Pepto-Bismol if you're reviewing fund allocation. it's going to be another helluva week.
OT Alert
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 09:30 — choice4allMr. Hui, Did Sycamore Creek open today? If so what were the 10/20 day numbers of enrollement even though they have been at Hilburn?
Sycamore Creek
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 09:56 — KeungHui (author)We haven't heard about them being unable to use the new building today so things are probably ok. The school's 10th-day enrollment was 650. The 20th day numbers won't be released for awhile. Wake usually releases the 20th-day numbers at the same time for all schools. They've usually done in October because they say they need to take the time to doublecheck the data.
oh, oh don't forget all
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 09:29 — bigwinnieoh, oh don't forget all those classrooms over state limits. When I spoke with DPI this wasn't the first time Wake had come unders scrutiny but they were given a "grace period for this year" given the "unusual circumstances".....so will the BoE give him a grace period also? raise his pay, when they won't give full bonuses to the teachers whose schools made AYP, etc....disgraceful.
and WCPSS is just so flush
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 09:22 — bigwinnieand WCPSS is just so flush with money that they can just keep doing stuff like this and throwing good money after bad whuile meanwhile country wide there are all kinds of cut backs:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080818/ap_on_re_us/schools_hard_times
Maybe He Will Exercise Free Agency
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 08:49 — al_in_garnerAs a Free Agent Del could do for the country (or anyone else)what he has done for Wake County. As practicing Socialists, The Board (eR) should allow others to share Dr Burns.
He should be allowed to seek his highest level. Possibly within the Federal Government (anywhere but here).
Aint gonna happen.
He's doing a great job ...
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 08:36 — g88ky07... of ruining education in Wake County!
So give him a used car and the key and tell him to get in it and keep driving until it ends in the ocean somewhere!
What a bunch of idiots to keep this guy and his stuttering Stanley lisp in power!
Del "when education can't get any worse, give the man a raise" Burns!
Del Burns, the worst thing to EVER happen to education in Wake County!
Outside of dumb voters passing school bonds!!
Never Forget nor Forgive......
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 11:46 — WuptdoPlease folks, never, ever forget all the damage happened on his Highness Pope McNeal's watch. Del Burns was nothing more than another "yes" man in McNeal's group of eunuchs at the Palace of Education. He is just carrying on his masters orders, since he was the "chosen one."
Don't you all remember the famous survey that recommend the new school super be someone from outside of the system, with a fresh set of eyes and could take out all the trash that have been fermenting at the Palace of Education. But no, the BoE(eR) decided to ignore the public (and teachers) and promote Pope McNeal's "chosen one." We now all continue to pay the price from so long ago, when that school board put Pope McNeal into power.
Never forget and never forgive.