Given the state of our government’s budget situation, and the sense of urgency that our legislators are trying to display with their current round of budget freezes, it was eye-opening to see Brad Shannon’s report earlier this week that newly minted Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn had made an appearance in front of the citizen salary commission to, let’s be honest, whine about his salary.
Dorn gets paid $121,618 each year in his new post, and he told the commission that ranks him below his chief of staff, below the state Department of Early Learning head, and even below 121 district superintendents here in the state.
Adding some perspective, the 122nd largest school district in the state according to the 2000 census is located in lovely Coupeville, and a few other comparable in size include Elma, Naches Valley and Chimacum. Some of my favorite places all of them, but nothing one would equate with educational or cultural dominance.
It really begs the question, is Dorn grossly underpaid, or are these superintendents overpaid?
To be fair, Dorn didn’t ask for a raise, and he did acknowledge that he chose to run for the office knowing the pay grade in advance, but he basically made an official proclamation that, as the kids these days might put it, I’m just sayin’, is all.
Dorn added, according to Shannon, that he was more concerned that the most qualified administrators might not seek the post when they can make at least twice as much in any of the major school districts in the state.
Really, now?
Meanwhile, Dorn himself benefited from the lack of credible candidates in the race. When early favorite Richard Semler, the Richland superintendent, dropped out of the race because of a family health issue, it essentially became a two-person race between Dorn and incumbent Terry Bergeson, who obstinately stood by the WASL even when she couldn’t answer some of the test questions herself.
Still, to call attention to his comparatively low pay at a time when state salaries are frozen, unemployment is rising pretty much everywhere but Pittsburgh, and even just four days before the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act passes in the U.S. Senate shows a galling lack of tact.
Especially since this isn’t Dorn’s first money grab. Recall that back in May of last year, he tried to boost his pension by getting his old colleagues in the legislature to make his retirement benefits based on his cushy $137,705 salary as the head of the Public School Employees Union instead of the $57,720 he earned as principal of Eatonville High School.
Dorn came to the office by way of Eatonville, a small Pierce County town that is best known to some of us as the home of former national prep football record holder Bobby Lucht, but this recent meeting smacks of an entirely different former Northwest athletic hero.
But hey, at least he is taking on the WASL, and most of us can agree that is far, far more important than a few thousand bucks here or there for a government job.
The real crime here is that the effin office exists. Why do we need it? Any policy issues should be settled by the legislature and governor and local admins can do the rest.
Wastaste seems top heavy with useless elected officers … Lt Guv, Land Commish, Insurance Commish, Auditor and now head Poobah of Elections (King Co only). How come we do not elect the officer of the NatL guard, the head of the Ferry Service, and the head of the State Patrol?
Sometimes good folks use these jobs as stepping stones, but mostly they should and could be handled by career types at far less cost to the State.
$121,618 is to much. In fact any government employee making more than $121,618 PLUS INCREDIBLE BENEFITS is a crime. There are hundreds and hundreds of public servants screwing us over with their salary and benefit demands. And they are never satisfied!
Do these idiots not realize that there is a FUCKING RECESSION!
The coin being pulled down by school district superintendants and other administrators is way out of hand. I know of married couples who both hold administration positions in the local district that are living real large; water front with views and Beemers in the garage large. Public service should not be the private trough.
This idiot needs to resign.
I think incorrectnottobright needs the WASL.
But as I remember as stated here…
http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/fa.....ookPS.html
6CO2 + 12H2O + Photons == C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O.
Plants, algae and certain types of bacteria, the photosynthetic process results in the release of molecular oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that is used to synthesize carbohydrates. But don’t tell that to incorrectnotbright.
Dummy Boy incorrectnotbright Plants use CO2 and make oxygen. Somewhere recently I read
I can see why people like incorrectnotbright wants to see the WASL killed.
After being on numerous committees who’s job was to determine the appropriate salary for a pastor, I’ve become pretty convinced that for most people, if the person is generally qualified for the job, the rule is pretty simple:
A. “If a person gets paid more than 20% more than I do, it’s too much – nobody needs that much money, especially if it’s comming out of my pocket.”
B. “If a person get’s paid more than 20% less than I do, I can’t figure out how in the world they survive, so they probably deserve a raise.
C. “Anybody who makes twice as much, or more, than I make is clearly being overpaid to the point of obnoxiousness.”
The funny thing, is that this seems to appy no matter how much the person makes. They could be flipping burgers at McD’s, or they could be running a medium-size company. They all seem to apply these standards pretty much.
Hey right wing fuckheads. An election was held. The Democrat won. Your guy lost. Get used to it. Too fucking bad. Your WASL is gone – just like everything else you used to hold near and dear! FUCK YOU! HA HA!
UsedDouche@7:
Really? The WASL is rightwing? I thought the leftwing’s darling wanted the WASL and she lost.
Hmmm… UsedDouche. You thirsty?
#7
This election was between tiddle-dee and twiddle-dumb also known as 2 democrats. There was no republican even running. One candidate was put up by the teacher’s union and the loser used to be the WEA candidate.
Superintendent’s are, as a whole, grossly overpaid AND have too much administrative staff underneath them. We need to consolidate many School Districts…now.
PS—Dorn is a putz.
@1 SJ, you must be new around here. This is the West. Here out West, we have a populist mindset, and we elect everyone. Even the King County elections director. Hell, even the gas station attendant who sells you coffee in the morning oughta be elected! That’s just the way we do things around here. It’s a tradition.
@2 Whatever company you work for is screwing its customers by passing the cost your compensation through to them, because you’re worthless. Taxpayers at least get value for Dorn’s pay.
@9 Aww. Are you disappointed because you couldn’t vote for someone who wants to replace science with religious hokum? I’ve got even worse news for you! Creationists suffered a big defeat this week when the Texas School Board refused to require that state’s public schools to teach the “weaknesses” of evolution. Another batshit-crazy-wingnut assault on science, fact, and reality goes down in flames! Eeeeee-rrrrrrrrr-crash!!! [Clouds of oil black smoke]
Fuck-n-a.
Mr.Rabbit
You are so smart! As a federal employee, about to retire, I am worthless. I guess it takes one to know one.
You sound like you also are a government employee, or maybe a lazy worthless retired state employee. You can tell by the stench.
@13
The fine folks of Nashville TN voted down “English Only” services. It’s nice to be able to read my morning paper without wincing.
@9
Yes, and the non-wingnut posters on this blog would like to extend a big THANK YOU to the WSRP for that. Feel free to hand us an election any time.
FINALLY – yes “I won” is all that President Obama needs to say to these right wing, ass-licking traitors. We beat the fuck out of the GOP across one side of this country and up the other. NOBODY gives a fuck what the right wingers think. Even with the racist GOP and the nutjob faaaar right hating on him, President Obama has approvals in the 70s. Let’s hope the GOP is stupid enough to fuck with that.
It’s a simple lesson. Democrats Won! Get used to things being different! Don’t like it? Go fuck yourself.
Stem cell research has be green lighted as well. So, so nice to have a president who isn’t apposed to modern science.
Michael #19
What the hell does “apposed” mean?
Can’t HA do better than echoing the conservative shibboleth that public employees are overpaid, mendacious ingrates?
That’s the where the public skirmish lines between left and right are usually drawn, with the heavy anti-tax and anti-regulation artillery moving up from behind when the “it’s my money” infantry gains advantage.