As of 9:21 this morning, 13 readers had emailed us THIS link (various sources, of course: CBS, AP, Google).
It’s the piece about Fresno (CA) County school superintendent, Larry Powell, giving back $800K in salary during the course of the next three years. Powell presides over 325 schools and 35 school districts with 195,000 students. A school system TEN TIMES the size of the BISD. And he earns roughly $288,241 per year to do it. That’s roughly $100K less than the “Butch-a-nator.”
Granted, He’s not going to be working for nothing. Powell technically retired, then agreed to be hired back to work for $31,000 a year (no benefits).
But it’s quite a gesture.
Every reader comment we’ve received has called out “Doc.” Sorry folks, but you’re wrong on this one.
BAYOU reader Michael towed the line a bit:
I’m probably not the first to forward you this article, but it’s relevance to our community goes without saying. Most would agree that the face value of this story is kind of funny when compared with paltry donation of our superintendent’s yearly raise. Even more poignant, however, is the realization of what size salary this man is sacrificing. It is apparent that this man, even if he were not forgoing his regular salary, would still be making less money (800K divided by 3 years) than our superintendent while governing a much bigger school district in an area of the country with a much higher cost of living.
But “Butch” would NEVER give up his massive haul. Why should he? He’s able to do whatever he wants, when he wants and with little to no board push-back. Powell, on the other hand, is foregoing salary to make sure that his pet projects get funding.
Wanna blame someone (or something), get PO’d at the BISD board (and school boards in general) that has (1) allowed Thomas’s salary to rise unchecked, (2) shirked accountability and (3) thumbed their noses at the rising tidal wave of public anger.
“Butch” is just a symbol; your garden variety American executive, getting while the gettin’ is good. If boards continue to allow it, most of these so-called leaders will simply tow the party line, collect their paychecks and get a stadium dedicated in their honor. Would you turn down a $40K raise?
Any board that allows this isn’t full of community leaders, but rather figureheads engaged in an open-ended turf war.
The victim is always the same: Our kids.
Don’t blame “Butch,” blame the people that hired him.