WEST AMWELL: Bus group won’t take raise in pay

Drivers made the decision on their own, according to Kerry Sevilis, business administrator

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   WEST AMWELL — Bus drivers who serve South Hunterdon Regional High School will give up their raise in the 2009-10 school year to save the district some money in these difficult financial times.
   The Board of Education did not ask the drivers to give up the raise. They made the decision on their own, according to Kerry Sevilis, the district’s business administrator.
   ”That was really wonderful of them,” Ms. Sevilis said.
   The decision will save South Hunterdon approximately $10,000.
   Some of the drivers also drive for West Amwell Elementary School. The cost saving to that district will be about $7,000.
   The drivers’ union contract called for a 4 percent raise.
   The bus drivers’ decision was delivered to the district last week, the same week the board renegotiated Superintendent Nancy Gartenberg’s contract at her request. She, too, asked to give up her raise in 2009-10. Ms. Gartenberg’s salary is $139,241 and she would have received 4 percent more next year
   First-year Principal James Bevere, Assistant Principal Michael Godown and Ms. Sevilis also have asked to freeze their salaries to help the district save money in what is expected to be a tough budget year for just about everyone during the recession.
   By freezing their salaries, Ms. Gartenberg and her fellow administrators will save South Hunterdon about $17,000, according to the district.
   For Mr. Bevere, Mr. Godown and Ms. Sevilis, raises would have been dependent on the board. There was no set percentage, according to Ms. Sevilis. Mr. Bevere’s salary is $105,000. Mr. Godown’s salary is $91,752. Ms. Sevilis’ salary is $90,000.
   When the freeze was first mentioned publicly last month, Ms. Gartenberg explained her decision.
   ”All you have to do is look around you to see how difficult things are for people right now,” she said. “There is a time to fight for what you need as an individual and a time to fight for the team. This one’s for the team.”
   Ms. Gartenberg’s old contact ran from 2007 to 2011. The new contract will run from 2008 to 2013.
   She will receive a 0 percent raise in 2009-10, a 4 percent raise in 2010-11 and 2011-12 and a 3 percent raise in the final year of the contract.
   The board voted 8-0-1 to approve the new contract in a meeting held at the school March 19. Thomas Hendricks abstained.
   The other administrators’ contracts are for a term of one year each and do not require a public hearing, Ms. Sevilis said.