School Administrators Cut Own Pay

June 26, 2009
BY GINA DAMRON
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Southfield Public Schools administrators are voluntarily taking salary reductions in light of the district's budget deficits, Superintendent Wanda Cook-Robinson announced Thursday.

More than 60 members of the district's administrative team will take 2% pay cuts, including Cook-Robinson, central office staff members, principals and assistant principals, she said at a news conference.

The concessions by administrators -- which come as the district faces a more than $5-million operational deficit going into the 2009-10 fiscal year -- amount to about $225,000 in savings.

The cuts will allow the district to save two administrative jobs.

Teri John, president of the Southfield Association of School Administrators and principal of Vandenberg World Cultures Academy, said the administrators wanted to preserve the district's "phenomenal programs."

"We came with an offer to make concessions because of what we want to maintain," she said.

The district already has reduced the 2009-10 operating budget by more than $10 million, mostly through staff layoffs. Earlier this year, according to the district, 72 teachers, eight administrators and 140 support staff members were laid off.

Contact GINA DAMRON: 586-826-7269 or gdamron@freepress.com

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