Published: November 13, 2008 12:26 am      

Salary commission hears from county BOE

Allegany members paid better than in neighboring counties

CUMBERLAND — Four of the five elected members to the Allegany County Board of Education described their executive, legislative and judicial responsibilities on Wednesday to the county Salary Study Commission.

Board members approve the school system’s budget, hire a superintendent and act as an appellate board during hearings involving students and district personnel.

Commission members, in turn, asked each member what a fair annual salary might be for the office. Board members currently receive $5,200. The board president, which rotates annually, receives $6,400.

Board members already are paid more than their counterparts in Garrett and Washington counties. In Garrett County, board members receive $3,800 each. In Washington County, members each receive $4,800.

Each member was interviewed separately. Tom Striplin figured he averages 16 to 20 hours each month on board business.

“Some months are fairly easy,” Striplin said. “Some months are extremely demanding. It’s hard to gauge.”

Striplin said it was “difficult” to answer whether board members should receive a salary increase. Still, he thought $10,000 each year would be “very fair.”

“But if it’s $5,000, it’s $5,000,” Striplin said.

Jane Dawson, board vice president, said each member has a specialty area and her subject-matter expertise revolves around the curriculum. Dawson said she averaged up to 20 hours a week spent on board business — four or more times Striplin’s estimate.

Dawson said gathering updated information for monthly board meetings “takes a great deal of preparation.”

She also said she’s taken a bit of abuse from constituents across the county. Dawson recalled a recent phone call about a certain matter.

“I got called a few things I won’t mention here,” Dawson said.

When pressed, Dawson declined to offer a suitable salary but felt Board of Education members “deserve more than the liquor board. Right now they are the same.”

Metz figured he spent up to 15 hours per week on board business during the budget cycle and, on an annual basis, about 10 hours per week “tops.”

Like Dawson, Metz did not suggest a specific salary.

“Whatever you guys decide is fine with me,” Metz said.

Treber, like Metz and Striplin, noted she did not run for the office to make money — she has a full-time job at Frostburg State University. But board members are not necessarily adequately compensated.

“It’s adequate because it exists,” she said. “It’s certainly not compensatory to the relative number of hours I spend. I think it could be higher, but I wouldn’t ask for it for myself.”

Board attorney Gary Hanna brought in a visual demonstration of the rules and regulations by which board members are expected to abide. The stack of books included the Annotated Code of Maryland, the state board regulations and the board’s own policies. Hanna said the board is responsible for making policy that complies with the state and state board.

Hanna said the responsibility for compliance with those rules and regulations ultimately lies with him.

“That’s part of my job,” he said.

All said the president of the board should receive a higher salary than the other four members. That is the case in all three of Maryland’s westernmost counties. Striplin said the position probably deserves 25 percent more than regular board members.

“You definitely have a lot more on your shoulders as president,” Striplin said.

The Salary Study Commission is refraining from comment about each office until the interviews are complete. There are only two offices remaining. Sheriff David Goad will meet with the commission at 5 p.m. on Dec. 4 at the County Office Complex. The county commissioners are scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. on Dec. 11.

Kevin Spradlin can be reached at kspradlin@times-news.com.