Members of the School District 57 board of trustees voted to give themselves a raise in July – maybe – despite facing possible budget cuts in the coming school year.
A school district policy set in 2019, calls for the board chairperson to receive an annual increase equal to the same percentage increase provided for the district's union-exempt staff. The vice-person's salary is set at $1,500 less than the chairperson, with regular trustees getting $3,000 less than the chair.
"Trustee remuneration is a delicate subject," trustee Tim Bennett said. "(And) we are looking at a very challenging budget coming up."
As of the board's meeting on Tuesday, the B.C. Public School Employers' Association (BCPSEA) hadn't decided what, if any, increase district exempt staff will receive, Bennett said. The district's policy requires the board's management and finance committee to consider trustee remuneration and bring a recommendation to the board for approval before March 31 each year.
Currently the board chairperson receives $22,660 per year, with the vice-chairperson getting $21,160 per year and trustees receiving $19,660 per year, as per district policy.
Members of the Prince George District Teachers Association and unionized district staff will receive a two per cent salary increase effective on July 1.
School District secretary-treasurer Darleen Patterson said that if exempt staff and trustees were also to get a two per cent increase, each trustee would receive a $453.20 per year increase, for a total cost of $3,172.40 per year.
For an organization with a budget in the hundreds of millions of dollars, less than $4,000 is a small amount, Bennett said. Bennett, who is the former board chairperson and chairs the management and finance committee, said it may be time for the board to reconsider how it compensates board members. However, any changes should come into effect after the next election, he added.
"I'd never had said this when I was chair... (but) the work of the chair is a part-time, and sometimes full-time, job," he said.
After four years as chairperson, Bennett didn't seek the nomination for the position last fall and "all of the sudden, my phone stopped ringing."
Trustee Sharel Warrington said the district's policy on trustee compensation is clear, and trustees either have to approve the potential increase or change the current policy governing trustee remuneration.
"(But) I am really concerned that we did give ourselves a lift last year and the year before," Warrington said. "We are coming into a budget crunch. it is important that the board show restraint."
While it isn't a lot of money, any increases to trustee and exempt staff wages aren't covered by the Ministry of Education and have to come out of the district's operating budget, she added. The district's reserve funds have been depleted from $17 million in 2018 to only $1.3 million in the 2020-21 budget, leaving little extra money to manage any new expenses.
"We are in more restrained times now, and will be for awhile," Warrington said. "We will be looking for ways our expenses will be reduced."
Vice-chairperson Shuirose Valimohamed said voting on your own salary is a tough topic, but there is no guarantee that BCPSEA will increase salaries for exempt staff, and thus trustees.
"There might be a freeze, because of COVID," she said.
Trustee Bob Thompson said his concerns are less about the money, but more about how it will look if the board is forced to cut spending – and possibly jobs – in the coming school year.
"That isn't a lot of money, but I'm concerned about the optics," he said.
Trustee Ron Polillo said while it's a tough subject, both the the district's exempt staff and the board do important work.
"Having a fair lift, that is comparable to other union groups, is really fair," Polillo said. "Quite frankly, I think it is deserved."
Bennett voted against the possible remuneration increase for trustees, the remaining trustees at the meeting voted in favour.
