Schools
Trustees Approve New Contract for Superintendent
At an unusual meeting, speakers agreed Jeffrey Felix is doing a great job. Not everyone, however, thought he deserves better compensation during tough times.
The Governing Board of the Coronado Unified School District voted unanimously to extend Superintendent Jeffrey Felix’s contract for four years.
The new contract includes a package of supplemental retirement contributions worth $70,000, to be paid in increments with half of the money coming in the final year.
The plan was presented as an inducement for Felix to stay. The board wanted to avoid having to begin anew with a new schools leader, said Board President Bruce Shepherd.
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Some 30 people attended the unusual 7:30 a.m. meeting, scheduled three days after a holiday, to voice their opinion. Many said they learned of the session after publicity by the California Schools Employees Association.
People did come, but not everyone protested. Eleven people spoke. six in favor, five opposed. All praised Felix for his leadership. No one expressed any desire to have him leave.
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But those who opposed the retirement offer said it was unfair to compensate him and continue to short change teachers and students.
“We’re told if you don’t like here, there’s the door. We can always find somebody to replace you,” said Wendy Moore, a second grade teacher at Village Elementary School. “The same is true of superintendents.”
Others argued that the superintendent was important enough to justify the boost.
“I couldn’t support this more,” said parent John O’Brien. “He has set high standards for leadership and good management.”
Board members read from prepared statements justifying the proposal. “He has made cuts that have saved the district tens of thousands of dollars. He has also brought in millions in new grants,” Trustee Doug Metz said
“He’s [Felix] the one who gets the money,” Trustee Brenda Kracht added.
She and trustee Dawn Ovrom held out an olive branch to the teachers, offering to use state money owed to the district to restore five school days.
This is money the state has withheld from the district since the 2009-2010 school year. It became available when Governor Jerry Brown signed the budget last month. The five days for kids are the instructional furlough days teachers gave up.
After the vote Felix asked to say a few words. “I want to stay in Coronado, not because of the money, but because people want me,” he said.
That didn't please one observer.
“If that's so, why didn’t he turn down the compensation?” asked Donna Dente, president of employees association.
