Raise, Contract Extension for EVSC Superintendent

E-VSC superintendent Dr. Vince Bertram was hired on to head the school corporation in the summer of 2007, when he signed a three year contract. That term was extended two years to 2012 Monday night by the school board of trustees. Bertram was also given an increase in retirement benefits and a performance based bonus payable at the end of each year starting next year. The contract offers an increase in Bertrams annuity, the money he gets each year for retirement, from $15,000 to $20,000. He also was granted wider discretion on how to spend that money, with options including investing in college savings accounts for his children, or in Roth IRA accounts. The biggest incentive in the new contract is the opportunity to make an additional $15,000 bonus each year. Bertram requested his pay scale remain $160,000 through the extension. Board members approached him about raising that salary to $175,000. Bertram said hed rather see the money awarded as a performance based bonus, with the board setting out specific achievement goals at the start of each year, and the bonus being awarded based on meeting those goals. The board retains the right to vote on the bonus each year. Only board member Terry Gamblin voted against the raise. Gamblin said he wanted to retain Bertram through 2012, but is worried about the financial status of the school corporation, and the state. "Im greatly concerned," said Gamblin of the raise. "My opposition is strictly financial." Gamblin said funding for the corporations budget, some of which comes from state property tax revenue, could be delayed, or be less than the corporation expects. Indiana lawmakers are in the process of trying to overhaul the property tax formula, which has created massive inequities among home owners, and could delay payments to schools. EVSC Parent Gina Johnson also took exception to the raise. "So far, I have no issue with him (Dr. Bertram), he has some great ideas," Johnson said. She feels Bertram is being rewarded for ideas, rather than actions. Johnson said shed rather see money put towards full time school nurses, or teacher pay. EVSC board member Dana Willett confessed that most of the calls and e-mails hed received voicing concern about the raise addressed the relative quickness of it, coming less than a year after Bertrams hire. Willett defended the move, saying the bold moves Bertram has made, including laying out a new organizational structure for the administrative offices, and creating a 5 year strategic agenda, make it worth retaining him. Bertrams strategic agenda was created over the last several months using input from teachers, parents and the community. It lays out plans to address early childhood education, the achievement gap, and school overcrowding. The agenda will be voted on at the school board meeting March 17th.