PAY SCALE
Seven Vancouver School Board staff pulled in more than $150,000 in remuneration between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, and one exceeded $200,000 for the first time in the district's history, according to the district's Statement of Financial Information, which was released recently.
The report indicates superintendent Steve Cardwell collected $202,300 in remuneration. Teacher J.L. Mace made $188,800. Mace typically lands near the top of the list because he holds multiple positions with the VSB-as a correspondence teacher, in adult education, as a teacher administrator for summer school and as a high school administrator.
Secretary treasurer Rick Krowchuk earned $169,600, while Paul Wlodarczak, associate superintendent of human resources, collected $165,600. He retired in September.
John Crowe was acting associate superintendent of continuing and international education, although he's since left the district. He was paid $165,300, while Laurie Anderson, the VSB's former associate superintendent of continuing and international education, who now works at SFU's downtown campus, took in $162,100-the bulk was from $54,000 in regular pay, $16,900 in compensatory time and $76,000 in vacation pay.
Valerie Overgaard, associate superintendent of learning services, earned $154,900. In the district's previous financial report, for the period July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010, 10 employees earned more than $150,000. Fewer hit above that mark this time around because several senior staff with high salaries retired or moved on to other jobs recently.
Two relatively new senior employees came close to $150,000. Maureen Ciarniello, an associate superintendent, earned $145,500. John Tinney, deputy superintendent, made $143,000. Ciarniello and Tinney started at $147,000 when they were hired in August 2010, but Tinney now makes $171,000 in remuneration due to his position as deputy superintendent.
Four staff claimed expenses upwards of $10,000, including Cardwell ($14,300), Ivy Leung ($16,300), Barbara Onstad ($19,200) and Kirthi Roberts ($14,400).
Leung is the coordinator of international education and Onstad is manager of international education. Both travel for their jobs. Roberts is manager of energy and climate action, but his job is paid for by B.C. Hydro, which reimburses the VSB. Board chair Patti Bacchus earned $26,000, while the remaining eight trustees made 24,000. Only Bacchus ($1,467) and Mike Lombardi ($1,750) claimed expenses of more than $1,000.
The Statement of Financial Information cites all district employees with remuneration of more than $75,000, payments made to suppliers in excess of $25,000, as well as trustees' pay. It defines remuneration as salary, wages, taxable benefits, payment into trust or any form of income deferral paid by the board to an employee, but does not include anything payable under a severance agreement. The school board report notes that remuneration for individual employees can include payouts for vacation, sick days and compensatory time not taken, in addition to regular salary.
50TH ANNIVERSARY
Windermere secondary school marks its 50th year Dec. 1. In recent years the high school has become known for environmental projects such as its courtyard garden and composting programs. Decade rooms will allow alumni to reminisce about years past and there will be a memento store, a photo booth and a slideshow of the school's history. Windermere is located at 3155 East 27th Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m., while an assembly is planned for 7 p.m. Mingle in the gym until 9 p.m. noconnor@vancourier.com Twitter: @Naoibh
