School board 67 trustees will look at a cost of living increase of 1.1 per cent for themselves at the next regular board meeting.
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May 29, 2015 - 2:35 PM
PENTICTON - A pending vote on a pay increase could be bad timing for Okanagan-Skaha school board trustees, from a public perception point of view.
The suggestion of a raise comes after the trustees recently passed a budget which included tough cuts to make up for a shortfall of provincial funding. It also comes on the heels of a pay hike for Superintendent Wendy Hyer.
The school board trustees are looking at a cost of living increase for themselves which they will vote on at their next regular board meeting on June 8.
The board has a policy which brings the matter of a pay increase to the attention of the trustees’ Secretary Treasurer on an annual basis. Board chair Linda Van Alphen said the recommendation is for a 1.1 per cent raise, in keeping with the current cost of living allowance guidelines.
“It amounts to a raise of $150 per year or $15 per month for the chair and $120 per year for the rest of the trustees. Even with this increase we will be behind our region and our cohort group,” Van Alphen said. The trustees have not had a pay increase since 2011.
School District 67 trustees received a stipend in the order of $10,620 last year. The chair received $13,210, with vice-chair receiving $12,220.
In the Central Okanagan, school trustees received a base rate of $17,870, rising to $18,755 for vice-chair and $20,148 for the chair’s position.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015