4-4-14 fdl school board approves new teacher compensation package

The Fond du Lac School Board has voted in favor of a new teacher compensation plan that some teachers say is unfair to many longterm employees.  At a special meeting Thursday evening the school board voted five to one in favor with one abstension.  Fond du Lac school board member Mark Jurgella cast the lone dissenting vote.  Jurgella says under the plan it would take 33 years to get to the top of the pay scale.  "It offered I didn't think enough money for people with masters and doctorate degrees and so I wasn't prepared to say that was going to attract and maintain the best employees,"  Jurgella said.  Superintendent Dr. Jim Sebert says the plan is designed to treat everyone equitably and to be sustainable into the future.  Jurgella says he’s concerned the plan will make the Fond du lac School District less attractive when it comes to hiring the best and brightest teachers.  Jurgella says some of teaching veterans will be locked into their present salary because they are just above the top of the scale that is part of the new plan.  "They've really got nothing to look forward to,"  Jurgella told WFDL news.  "They may or may not get another raise for the entire rest of their career and I don't know how that's going to motivate our teachers to stay here."   The board agreed to review the plan in six months to determine if there are any unanticipated pay inequities.