School Board freezes salaries of top staff

The six administrators in the Maple Dale-Indian Hill School District will not receive a pay increase for the 2009-10 school year.

Mary Dean, district administrator and Maple Dale School principal, made the request to the School Board on March 10.

"As part of the budget planning process, the administration is cognizant of the current economic landscape, and the uncertainties regarding future spending," Dean said. "One step that can be taken is to control known costs and expenses."

Maple Dale-Indian Hill has been contending with annual budget shortfalls for several years as resident student enrollment within the district has declined.

The district this spring will have two referendum questions, one to increase spending for operating costs by $800,000 annually for 10 years and another to borrow $4 million to address maintenance needs, on the ballot.

The board welcomed Dean's request.

"Financially and symbolically, this makes an important statement to everyone in the community about the current state that we're in, and what we're up against," board member Mark Goldstein said.

Dave Fidlin can be reached at (262) 446-6603.

By the numbers

Maple Dale-Indian Hill School District administrator salaries will remain the same for the 2009-10 school year.

$136,824

District Administrator and Maple Dale School Principal Mary Dean

$78,000

Indian Hill School Principal Brendan McCarthy

$57,460

Business Administrator Gary Swalve

$56,630

Director of Pupil Services Deb Cook-Westfahl

$45,777

Instructional Technology Coordinator Chris See

$36,855

Director of Operations Jim Beckmann (Maple Dale-Indian Hills's portion at 40 percent)