Dear JCPS,
I am a JCPS staff member who is considered a central office administrator. I have been reading letters and articles bashing central office and administrators for their salary, but I felt the need to speak up because some of us are being blamed for things that are not our doing. Even though I am considered a central office administrator, my office is in a school. I provide mental health services and assessment services to ECE (special education) students. If I understand the study correctly, my role group is underpaid compared to the market. I am not complaining about my salary, although I would like to point out that my step has been frozen multiple times, so I do not appreciate the implication that I have been getting 3-4% raise every year, Mr. Tom Hudson. Shame on you for trying to shift the outrage the community feels towards your close to $200k salary onto the teachers and staff.
I do want to bring attention that in most counties in Kentucky, our role group serves 2 or 3 schools. I serve five. We are woefully under the recommended ratio for our role group by almost 100 staff members. And due to continued elimination of positions, more and more is added to our plate each year. Louisville is my home and the only place I ever wanted to work was JCPS. However, under Dr. Hargens’ “leadership”, I have begun to question whether or not this is where I want to continue working. It is disheartening to see how little she respects and cares for the teachers and staff that are truly the heart of the school system.
I just wanted to let the public know that some of the administrators that they are blaming for the issues at hand support the students, staff, and community. We provide much needed mental health services to some of our most vulnerable children. I love my job. I love working with the students and I wish I had more time to do more therapeutic services with them, but there is just not enough hours in the day. Please do not lump all of us into one pile as being an issue. We are as frustrated and unappreciated as you are.
Sincerely,
Central Office Staff Member
NOTE: While the author’s identity is protected here, they are not anonymous to Dear JCPS. Any board member wishing to address the concerns shared here can contact our administrators to make a connection.
