SUPERINTENDENT’S CONTRACT RENEWED (IN FEBRUARY)
The news media was surprised to learn at last night’s (Thursday’s) Brenham School Board meeting that Superintendent Walter Jackson’s contract was renewed. The minutes of last month’s school board meeting showed that after their closed executive session to discuss Dr. Jackson’s contract and compensation, the board reconvened into open session and voted. There was no agenda item listed for reopening into open session or for taking action on the Superintendents contract. When asked about this issue, school board president Natalie Lange stated that the discussion was listed for closed session and that they wouldn’t know till after that if an open session would be needed. The Texas Open Meeting Act requires that all votes be taken in open session, and that action can only be taken on items listed on the agenda. According to the minutes of last month’s meeting Dr. Jackson’s contract was renewed for another year with a 4.69 percent increase in salary.
At last night’s meeting, the board went into executive session to discuss contracts for administrative personnel. The only item listed on the agenda after the executive session was adjournment. The board reconvened into open session though, and voted to renew the administrative contracts “as presented in closed session”. No names or positions were given for these contracts. When asked what contracts were renewed, Superintendent Walter Jackson stated that it was not the district’s policy to release that information.
A couple of things to consider. I offered a critical statement about the method used to calculate teach pay as I believe it to be deceptive to both the teachers and to the public who reads about these increases, the public thinks teachers are getting much needed raises when they read in the media and see a decent percentage amount listed. Never is the “mid-point process” explained so the public knows that many teachers get much less than advertised. In response to the “Teacher” I have found a few districts who use this method but it is not as common as you state and it is not a transparent way to give increases. I have talked with many educators and found that many districts do not use this method for the reasons stated.
The idea that all teachers should get exactly the same dollar amount is a concept right our of a socialist utopia. What ever happened to raises based upon merit, years of service, or other quantifiable methods. It is ridiculous that a first year teacher should get exactly the same amount as a 20 year teacher.
Dr. Jackson with roughly one year of service may be doing a great job but he has his hands full. Teachers are completely disenfranchised, the principals in many cases are out of touch, discipline does not exist on many campuses, and the curriculum is completely broken. Many teachers know what is wrong, but the administration and the army of “specialists” they have employed manage from the top down with little regard for what is happening in the classroom. I choose Brenham everyday and love our town and our school, but I have to state that we are headed for massive problems in serious changes are not made.
Merit pay for Educators is often mentioned as a better way to award pay increases. The problem with this is that most merit pay plans do not succeed in improving student learning or lead to improved educator performance. They have been successful in creating low Educator morale and competition between Educators. They have also been successful at wasting time and money to administer the plans.
Perhaps a pay raise should be based on a set amount for everyone with bonus amounts for advanced degrees, perfect attendance, and extra duties performed. Each of these are easy to quantify and should identify those who are interested in putting forth extra effort.
As an educator in this district, It is my opinion that there is always to sides to every story. From the comments posted thus far, is seems that the people feel Dr. Jackson and the board members are doing a good job but may have been secretive about how the 4.69% raise he received at the renewing of his contract in February, which he could have taken when starting his position last year. I am sure that his refusal to see receive his raise at the time we teachers could have stemmed from the fact that he wanted to make sure all faculty and staff were taken care of first. Most of us that choose teaching as our profession, do not go into it thinking we are going to get rich. We do it because of our love for children and wanting them to have the best possible chance at making it in this world as educated individuals. Most definitely we would like to make a substantial salary but sometimes money is not the driving force behind what we do. It disturbs me that some may feel that the school board and superintendent we, as citizens, helped to elect, is being called dishonest and secretive. From my knowledge, the raise Dr. Jackson received is the one he should have taken when first entering in as superintendent.However,he did not take it then because he had just been hired.. Just remember there are two sides to every story and we have not heard the superintendent”s or the school board’s. It’s my opinion that if we start attending more school board meetings, we won’t be so quick to think everything is being done underhandedly.
I am grateful for good leadership and committed educators in Brenham ISD and I support pay increases for all dedicated staff, including the Superintendent. I choose Brenham every day and hope that my children grow up attending Brenham ISD – a premiere district with vision and high quality educators, not Brenham ISD – a mediocre district lacking the foresight and perseverance to move forward. I think Brenham ISD is on the right track and I hope they stay there. I thank all Brenham ISD employees from maintenance to admin and every staff member in between for bringing your A-game each day. You have earned my respect and I support you.
Personally I think Dr. Jackson is doing a good job and the board has been very organized and on point.My wife is an educator and yes has chosen to stay in Brenham. The 4.00% raise was nice and well deserved, but from my understanding Dr. Jackson accepted his raise just as the teachers did with nothing to hide. I agree honesty is the best policy so I encourage everyone to attend the board meetings to know the truth for yourself.
The teacher wage increases are given based on something called a mid point average. The basic effect is that the most experienced teachers get much less than the increase that is published in the media. Wage increases should be simple, straight forward, and transparent. If you state you are giving a 4% increase, you would be able to simply multiply you salary times 4% and that is the amount of your increase, however due to this mid-point method, many teachers receive much less than the amount the school board so proudly proclaims to the press. It is dishonest and it is just one more cause for the worsening teacher morale problems we are seeing in our district. Discipline is non-existent, the curriculum is not working, the administrators are not listening to the teachers, and the wage increase formula is dishonest! Is it any wander that teachers are leaving our district!
While I agree with you on the lack of discipline, the curriculum and the administrators, the mid-point salary increase is pretty standard in education. That is how all districts give salary increases. While it may not seem fair, everyone gets the same dollar amount increase. Throughout the salary raises, the “pay scale” ladder hasn’t really been changed much so the veteran teachers don’t see much increase from year to year. Many districts have been doing an “equity adjustment” and making sure that all of the “jumps” in the ladder increase the same amount. Maybe Brenham ISD should consider doing this also.
AMEN! You hit the nail on the head!!
WOW!! Does this mean the rest of BISD personnel will receive a 4.69% pay increase in a few months? Surely the rest of the staff is worth just as much as a superintendent who has been here less than a year?!? Do you think that maybe it is more of our school board that is the problem and not the past superintendent? I just don’t understand the thinking of this board. Very poor leadership and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.
Dr. Jackson did not get the raise when the teachers did.
A 4.69% increase, really! Where is a true increase for the teachers like that. Teachers are given an increase based on some weird formula that ensures that no matter the amount stated to the media and the public, long serving teachers never get anywhere near the amount that is openly published. It is a complete and total fraud! Dr. Jackson seems to be doing a good job and I do not think it is wrong to increase his wages, however we need some honesty and transparency in the teacher compensation instead of the very dishonest way teachers wage increases are published.
Why is Dr. Jackson’s salary increase taken care of before that of the teachers on the front line? The current school board was voted in largely by teachers and those in the community who wanted to see better for our schools. Now it’s back to the same old games and our teachers will pay the price if they stay in Brenham. Do you want your children to have excellent teachers or do you want them to have high-priced administrators? Can we expect at least a 4.69% raise for teachers this year, or will we continue to lose our best educators to the surrounding districts that actually value them?
Thank you for questioning the manner in which the board conducts business. Many parents should be doing the same. The BISD board was called to account for failing to follow state guidelines back in the late 1950’s, and evidently think the rules still do not apply to them. I know, because my parents acquired a copy of state rules and presented it to the board. This recent incident was no oversite. But again, board positions are elected, and voters must realize this. If candidates know the majority of voters are “single box” voters, which they are, qualified or not, they run and win. You get what you vote for folks.
First let me thank the board and Dr. Walter Jackson for all their hard working and dedication toward educating your children/families and support our teachers, administrators and support staff. As a parent who has two children in the district and also actively volunteers on a weekly basis I’d like to express my thanks for the unity and professionalism displayed by our board, particular from where we have come from in previous years. The issue protocol for the Superintendent’s is the same one that has been used for over 20+ years under all other previous boards and superintendents. Also the teachers received a raise last year which the superintendent did not because he was just hired. My prayer is we can keep the focus on the progress the district is making in educating our students, increasing teachers salaries to retain qualified teachers in our community and school, and setting a positive example for our children who are watching us.