A mugshot of Mike Miles, Dallas ISD superintendent, during the forum ÒVital Lessons: How Dallas Confronted the Ebola ChallengeÓ hosted by The Dallas Morning News in the lecture hall in the Edith O'Donnell Arts and Technology Building at the University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, Texas Wednesday November 5, 2014. (Staff photo)
Re: “DISD $100K club grows — 175 make six figures; Miles says district needs to be competitive,” Oct. 28 news story, and “DISD financial affairs are clouding classroom mission,” by Steve Blow, Oct. 30, Metro column.
Two stories in last week’s Dallas Morning News gave readers a false impression of the raises received by senior-level leaders in Dallas ISD. Both gave the impression that the 25 highest-paid administrators all received raises greater than what other employees received while remaining in their same roles. This is far from reality.
Here is the truth about the 25 positions:
Ten received the board-approved 3 percent raise that all teachers, and nearly all other staff, received.
Seven were promoted to new roles with significantly greater responsibility. For example, five executive directors, who oversaw approximately 12 schools each, were promoted to assistant superintendent positions with oversight of approximately 40 schools apiece.
Three are new to the district.
Two are internal audit employees. The internal auditor’s salary is set by the board, which, in turn, sets salaries for his staff. Both employees received promotions.
Only three remained in the same role and received salary increases above the standard 3 percent provided districtwide. Of those, one is still paid $20,000 less than her predecessor, one is now comparable with her predecessor and the third is commensurate with his peers with similar duties and responsibilities.
The initial story also suggested that teachers are being paid less than they were four years ago. In fact, Dallas ISD teachers have received raises each of the last two years, 2 percent and 3 percent, respectively. Teachers who have remained with the district during that time are, on the whole, being paid more for their service.
Thanks to a new evaluation and compensation system, Dallas ISD principals received on average a salary increase of $9,000 this school year. A similar system will go into place for Dallas ISD teachers next year, meaning there is every expectation that teachers will receive higher salaries that reward them for their effectiveness in the classroom rather than for their years of service.
Thank you for the opportunity to present the facts.
Jon Dahlander,
communication services, Dallas ISD