Salary increases are much too much

Charles Gallion
Published: March 7, 2008

I was appalled by the story on the expected salary increases for the Prince William County Schools’ Superintendent and his deputies entitled “Superintendent due for a $14,000 raise.”

If there was any leadership at all within the PWC school hierarchy, the superintendent, his deputies and all of the associate superintendents would forego accepting any kind of merit increase this year.  Their share of the merit pay pie would be better allocated to those teachers on the lower end of the scale who are fighting hard to make financial ends meet. That 3 percent would provide some much needed relief to an additional 30 to 40 people within PWCS who need that extra 3 percent far more than the supe and his executives.

It is time for the leadership of the Prince William County Schools to put their money where their mouths are. If they truly support the teachers in the county, let them publicly give up a portion of their huge raise to spread around some of the benefits.

Real leadership begins at the top. It’s time to lead by example.  Unfortunately, I am not holding my breath that this will happen at all.

CHARLES GALLION
Woodbridge