Some School Administrators Could Be in Line for Pay Raises

There's a good chance a new principal who joins Strongsville City Schools will be paid more than one who's been here a decade, and that's not fair, Superintendent John Krupinski said.

Krupinski said Strongsville has no salary matrix for administrators, which means new principals, assistant principals and others are are paid "market value."

Meanwhile, principals who have been with the district longer are subject to pay freezes and are making below market value.

"That's not fair . . . and it's not just," Krupinski said.

The last pay raise for the administration was in 2008.

Krupinski told School Board members he wants to analyze the salaries of Strongsville administrators and place them at pay levels based on their experience and performance "so we can keep the best and brightest that we have."

Plus, it's difficult to attract new talent to a job that pays less that what he or she is already making. he said. 

According to Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel's website, Strongsville principals make significantly less that those in nearby districts.

The average principal salary here in 2012 was $82,241, according to the figures, while in Brunswick it was $97,752 and in North Royalton, $98,907.

The new formula could result in pay raises for some administrators. Krupinski stressed they would be reasonable and sustainable increases, and would fall in the middle of other districts' salaries, not at the upper or lower ends.

Board member Ruth Brickley said the analysis is "long overdue."

"I, for one, am glad you're taking  look at this," she said.