Superintendent salary hike OK’d

Brandon Twp.-A 2 percent wage increase granted to most groups in the district has also been extended to the top.
The school board approved by a 5-0 vote a 2-percent salary increase for Superintendent Matt Outlaw during their Oct. 19 meeting. Absent from the meeting were board members Debbie Brady and Chris Yuchasz.
‘In light of all the bargaining with our units and and as a method of support and encouragement, we wanted to do something positive for Dr. Outlaw and increase his salary,? said Board President Kevin McClellan. ?(The wage increase) is consistent with other contracts and in the same bandwidth with what we can afford.?
Last month, the board unanimously approved salary adjustments for non-union groups as well as the Brandon Education Association, completing contract settlements that began in August. Non-union employees received a 2-percent wage increase, as did clerical, transportation, and food service employees. Teachers are receiving a step increase, or 1 percent increase in pay. Administrators will receive a 1 percent off-schedule payment each year or a salary step increase.
The vote to increase the superintendent’s salary came after a positive audit presentation from Paul Bryant of Plante Moran in which he praised the district’s budgeting.
Outlaw noted that in the original 2014-15 budget, the district was eexpecting a loss of $771,396 and instead the district had a surplus of $222,528.
‘We did that by tightening our belt, making some adjustments to the alternative education program and supply accounts,? said Outlaw. ‘We did a lot of small things that added up to big savings and it is one of the things I am most proud of from our team in the last year.?
The superintendent’s base salary will increase from $130,000 to $132,600 annually.