Granville Schools administrators, some staff pass on bonuses, increases

Two top Granville Schools administrators have chosen not to accept earned bonus compensation provided for in their contracts.

In addition, several district administrative team members have also declined owed step increases this year.

Board of Education President Russ Ginise announced at the Aug. 13 Granville school board meeting that Superintendent Jeff Brown and Treasurer Mike Sobul had both declined to accept contractually owed bonuses in light of the district’s current fiscal situation following the May levy defeat, which also resulted in cuts including several district positions.

In an interview prior to the Aug. 13 meeting, Ginise said, “Both (Brown and Sobul) have annual goals created jointly between themselves and the board that are then committed to writing. At the end of the year, we review them, and they are tied to what would generally be called bonus compensation (totaling a percentage of base salary).

“Both Jeff and Mike in board estimation met or exceeded their goals and their performance has been exemplary,” Ginise continued. “We believe both are outstanding performers and under the terms of their contact have earned additional bonus compensation, but both of them have declined to take it.”

In publicly announcing Brown and Sobul’s decision not to accept their earned compensation this round, Ginise elaborated that it is in fact not the first time the administrators have made that decision, and past deferments have totaled approximately $24,000 for Sobul over time, and in Brown’s case, more than $33,000.

“This is money they were entitled to,” Ginise said during the board meeting. “It’s money they earned and it is money they declined.”

Ginise noted that in one of the community forums held in the wake of the May levy failure, the issue of administrative costs and even administrative pay cuts was raised by one or two participants.

But Ginise also noted the school district in no way offers substantial enough administrative compensation for any administrative pay level reductions to come even close to bridging the district’s widening budget gap.

Brown announced at the board meeting that members of the administrative team had also declined to accept step increases this round. That decision encompasses 10 additional staffers, according to Brown.

In other board discussion, the topic turned to the fall election and the school income tax funding issue that will appear on the November ballot.

Noting it was “rather quiet” over the July portion of the school season break, Ginise said he has been heartened by comments from some community members who opposed last May’s issue but who say that they are on board with the November all-income tax issue now being proposed by the district.

A school funding event discussion is on tap later this week:

At 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16, Sobul will be conducting what is being described as a program called “School Funding 101” that will explore and explain some of the outside forces that complicate local school funding for districts like Granville.

That is scheduled to take place in the Little Theater at Granville Middle School.

Beyond that program – and further messaging to be provided by the school issue levy committee – Brown encouraged community members with questions to contact the school district directly with any questions or concerns.