Board Approves Fourth HHS Vice Principal Post

Hillsborough Hgih School will now have four vice principals, after the Board of Education approved the addition of one vice principal post.

The position, which the district expects to post for as early as Tuesday, is expected to have a salary of $95,000 and a benefits cost of $17,994. The position would be funded through breakage, which is the money leftover after the district fills a vacant position with someone who receives a lower pay rate.

It’s a position that’s been requested for many years, but was often cut from school budgets. However, with vice principals taking over duties after high school supervisor positions were cut, and an increase in students, the position’s become more and more necessary, according to Principal Karen Bingert.

The school’s three vice principals handle about 800 students each—300 more than 12 years ago, when the school had 1,600 students and three vice principals.

“I am thankful and honored that the board recognized and supported this need,” Bingert said. “I believe that this gives us an opportunity to help our students be healthy and successful and to help our staff make the most of the educational environment.”

Still, approving the position didn’t sit well with some board members, who questioned the use of breakage and unanticipated aid for certain posts and the necessity of what they called a non-classroom position.

“What we are doing for these jobs is unprecedented,” Greg Gillette said. “This should all take place during the time we create the budget.   .   .If we are going to do something unprecedented like this, why can’t we do something unprecedented and give half (of the unanticipated state aid) as a guaranteed amount off the tax levy.”

“The positions are not going to help reduce class sizes,” Jennifer Haley said. “They are not going to help us with our World Language program. I have no issue saying we should take half of the money that’s received and giving it toward tax relief, which is what the letter the governor sent said it should all go toward anyway.”

Gillette proposed pledging half of the unanticipated state aid money to tax relief, rather than the about $421,000 the district has reserved for possible relief. The district received an unanticipated $1,033,332 in state aid money in July of this year, as part of an $850 million allocation plan from the state.

Despite the extra aid money, the district’s state funding levels are still below the 2009-2010 levels. That year, the district saw a $5 million cut in state funds, which amounted to a 19 percent reduction in aid.

The vice principal post will not be funded through state aid, instead being funded through breakage. District Superintendent Jorden Schiff said the position would not have been created had the district believed it could not finance it again.

For other board members, the state aid and tax relief questions relate to what the district will receive next year.

“When it comes to state aid, the state never gives us what it really should,” Board President Steven Paget said. “Maybe this is the reason we are doing unprecedented things—because they are giving us unprecedented state aid.   .   .We can look at some of that money in tax relief, but, on the other hand.  .  .to make a promise like that, it’s very difficult to make a promise not knowing what they are going to say next year.”

“If our philosophy is to not spend on anything because we might not get it next year, maybe we should not spend it on anything  .  .  .because we might not have the money,” Marc Rosenberg said. “We can’t operate like that.”

“At no point have I said I’m not willing to give back as tax relief,” Chris Pulsifer said. “What I’m not willing to do, which I think is foolhardy, is to pledge right now, with two thirds of a year still ahead of us and no proof of what the septic system, water system, driveway or whatever else is going to require repair and we’ve stood here today and said, ’We will not touch that money.’ We have two-thirds of a year to go. To make a pledge right now, I find to be foolhardy.”

The position passed with board members Judy Haas, Thuy Anh Le, Pulsifer, Rosenberg and Paget voting in favor of it, and Haley, Thomas Kinst, Dana Boguzewski voting against it. Gillette abstained from the vote.