School district’s top-level salaries draw flak

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District board on July 14 unanimously approved the salaries for two new administrative positions, prompting some educators to criticize top pay levels.

Trustees approved the hiring of Kurt Suhr as executive director of elementary education and Kirk Bauermeister as executive director of secondary education and their compensation. Both will receive a base pay of $216,945, according to district staff reports.

The new positions were created as part of a reorganization of district administration. Newport-Mesa is eliminating two positions, adding another and altering two more. The end result is a savings of about $26,200 for the district and an increase in pay for three administrators totaling about $177,000.

The change was kicked off when Assistant Supt. of Secondary Education Charles Hinman left earlier this year and his position was eliminated, along with the position of assistant superintendent of elementary education, which had been held by Susan Astarita.

Astarita was moved to the newly created position of senior associate superintendent in April. Her salary is $245,909 before benefits and allowances, according to district staff reports.

The two new executive positions will replace the director of elementary education job, previously held by Suhr, and director of secondary education job, previously held by Steve McLaughlin, who is joining the Fountain Valley School District.

The executive positions are similar to the director jobs but instead of mentoring and evaluating principals, they involve only mentoring. Evaluations will be done by Supt. Fred Navarro.

When Hinman was in the assistant superintendent role, he was given a base pay of $203,181, according to Transparent California’s data for 2013.

When Suhr was in the previous director role, he was paid about $149,853 base pay. McLaughlin was paid about $149,871, according to the database.

Kimberly Claytor, president of the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers, said school programs in need of funding are not being given priority. She said many programs depend on fireworks stands, carwashes and other volunteer efforts.

“Whether it’s elementary, middle or high school, we have people who are scrambling to implement school programs for students,” Claytor said.

Navarro decided to make the changes after Hinman left, and he sought input from K-12 principals to determine the greatest need in filling his vacant position.

“Many principals requested mentoring and additional support in professional development,” school board President Martha Fluor said. “Then Dr. Navarro and Susan Astarita developed a job description that would best serve what the principals were asking for.”

Bauermeister, who most recently served as principal of Estancia High School, was recommended for the role of executive director of secondary education in May. Suhr was recommended for the executive director of elementary education position.

Fluor said the men come with a history of understanding the needs of educators.

“Kurt brings a lot of thought and consciousness to the table,” Fluor said. “Kirk has been a school teacher, principal, and he is respected. They bring enthusiasm and they want to support our principals.”

Claytor emphasized that she and the federation are confident in Bauermeister’s ability to serve the schools in this new role.

“Bauermeister has been one of the principals that bargaining members have had the most support from,” Claytor said. “We don’t begrudge anyone for being paid properly. But right now the school board is prioritizing the top-paid employees in the district over what should be first — what’s happening at the schools’ sites.”