Santa Clara County Grand Jury
• 2008-2009
Fil" Sep 3 Uz009 Saratoga Union School District Chief executive Officer/CI CO~~kt8JB~~ Sup~~r are David H.yamasa~
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 5 findings
F1
Boards of Trustees approve overly generous benefits which include thefollowing: • Fully paid health benefits for trustees and theirfamilies • Excessive travel and conference costs • Pension contribution
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Board of Trustees should carefully review the benefits listed inFinding 1and: • Eliminate health benefits for Board Members • Minimize travel and conference costs • Eliminate pension contributions Response: . --_.- ----- .... - -.. ------ -- SARATOGA UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT SUSD board members receive $200.00/month for their service. SUSD does not exceed the $240/month limit as stated in the California Education Code. SUSD board members are permitted to participate in the district's health and welfare benefit program. A portion of benefit premium costs are covered by district funds. Total cost to the district in 2008-2009 was $13,146. There is no pension plan available to SUSD board members.
F2
Boards of Trustees are approving overly generous benefits to Superintendents and Chancellors, including thefollowing: • Auto allowances (auto leases/purchases, insurance, maintenance, etc.) to superintendent • Housing allowances • Million dollar housing loans at zero or below market interest rates • Guaranteed annual step and/or longevity increases • Signing bonuses • Contract buyouts • Excessive performance bonuses • Per diem payments when out the district • Personal technology allowances • Professional memberships and subscription allowances • Excessive travel and entertainment expenses • Salary increases automatically triggered by increases in teachers' salaries, which are in addition to other guaranteed salary increases • Pension allowances (in addition to regular STRS/PERS contributions) • Advanced degree stipends • Lifetime medical insurance benefits • Annual physicals
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Boards of Trustees should carefully review and renegotiate the Superintendent/Chancellor benefits listed inFinding 2for possible reduction and/or elimination. Response: - - - . ----~_ .. ---- . --- - .. SCHOOL DISTRICT The Superintendent is the CEO of the organization and his compensation is in line with similar organizations and has similar responsibilities. The Superintendent's job is a difficult and demanding job which requires a person with proven skills and experience. The high cost of living in the area has created a market in which compensation packages offering certain benefits are present. In the vast majority of cases, the benefits are not "overly generous," but in line with the realities of market supply and demand.
F3
Superintendent salaries and increases appear to bear no relationship to the number of schools, students, and employees they oversee, nor their district's academic improvement.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Board of Trustees should ensure thaTSuperintendent/Chancellor salaries and increases take into account the number of schools, teachers, and students they oversee and are tied to the district's students' progress and quantifiable metrics. Response: Disagree The decision to consolidate districts is in the hands of local voting citizens. Citizens overwhelmingly support local control of school districts. There is a strong preference for smaller sized school districts. Larger districts are no guarantee of better financial performance. (i.e. Oakland, Los Angeles, West Contra Costa County, San Francisco)
F4
Boards of Trustees hire costly search firms to recruit successors for retiring or dismissed Superintendents.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Boards of Trustees should conduct a preliminary search within the local area prior to hiring search firms. Response: Agree 20460 Forrest Hills Drive. Saratoga. California 95070 • (408) 867-3424 • (408) 867-2312 fax • www.saratogausd.org Students deserve the highest qualified person to lead the district. Board members are not qualified to be Human Resources recruiters -professional assistance and guidance is required.
F5
Boards of Trustees approve the hiring of multiple private attorneys, in some cases at tremendous expense.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
All Boards of Trustees should engage County Counsel whenever possible and leverage their buying power to negotiate lowerfees withprivate lawfirms. Response: Agree Unfortunately, legal costs for school districts are high. Schools operate in an extremely complex web of regulations, rules, laws, and procedures. Professional assistance is necessary to protect the rights and safety of students and staff. SUSD is committed to minimizing legal expenses while fulfilling all educational and legal responsibilities. Submitted on behalf Mthe Saratoga Union School District Board of Trustees, ~ymeiss Superintendent