School budget not spent wisely

I read school board candidate Ray Borkenhagen's letter to the Mailbag regarding the activities (or inactivity) of the Baraboo District School Board and school administration.

In a letter to the Mailbag on Dec. 5, 2008, Borkenhagen said, "I was dumbfounded by school board member Ed Mortimer's letter to the Mailbag." Mortimer's letter outlined the outrageous raises received by administrators of the Baraboo School District. In checking the raises referred to in Borkenhagen's letter, I have a document from the district's Director of Business Services Jim Long detailing the raises/benefits Borkenhagen said are being given out at an "alarming rate." This document confirms Borkenhagen's concerns.

For example: District Administrator Crystal Ritzenthaler is scheduled for 2009-2010 to receive a salary of $115,000, plus a raise of $2,829, plus benefits totaling $41,535.35 for a total of $159,364 in wages and benefits. Her benefits of over $41,500 are more than many workers with families make in a year. Her contract also gives her $2,000 above the salary/benefits to further her education.

Jim Long will receive a salary/benefit raise of $12,677 in just two years. His package for 2009-2010 is $131,208. Aaron Andres, activities director, will receive a $10,239 raise in salary and benefits in just two years. Andres' package is $103,239 for 2009-2010. Administrative Assistant/Secretary Mary Howard will receive a $5,318 raise in salary and benefits in just two years. Howard's proposed package is $77,890 for 2009-2010. The total of the 14 administrators' salaries and benefits will amount to $1,602,718.97 for 2009-2010.

However, remember that over 80 percent of the total school budget goes for salaries and benefits.

A "one-time $300 stipend to cover health insurance deductible" was included in the 2008-2009 packages for all but three of the administrators. The strange thing is that the $300 was also included in the 2009-2010 salary for all administrators. What is it about "one-time stipend" that the board doesn't understand?

Who is responsible for these outrageous raises and benefits? Past and some present school board members who voted yes for anything these administrators wanted. There will be an election of school board members soon.

Ray Borkenhagen is a good choice. He will represent the taxpayers and students of the school district and will ask questions regarding the operation of the school district that past and some present school board members should have been asking for years.

The big question is not where is the money going to come from, but what happens to it when it gets here. If the school district and school board request a referendum, be sure you remember where most of the budget money goes.

With our economy in ruins, millions being laid off from their jobs, homes being foreclosed on because the jobless cannot pay mortgage payments, then high-priced administrators should have to bite the bullet like everyone else.

Some of this money that the administrators received could have been spent more wisely on our children.

Ed Borski, Baraboo