Superintendent, Cabinet members take voluntary salary freeze
Cost savings important to ensure continued financial stability

February 24, 2009

Superintendent Les Fujitake and members of his administrative cabinet have agreed to a voluntary salary freeze for the 2009-10 school year. The move would be a cost savings to the District on next school year’s budget.

Fujitake was set to begin negotiating a new three-year contract, but asked the Board of Education to maintain his current salary for the first year of the new contract. School Board members will vote to approve Fujitake’s salary freeze request at an upcoming board meeting.

The seven members of the superintendent’s cabinet include the assistant superintendent, and executive directors for student services, human resources, community services, finance and support services, and community relations.

The salary freeze savings comes from a projected salary increase of 1.5 percent on current salaries.

School Board Chair Maureen Bartolotta praised Fujitake and his administrative cabinet for setting an example at a time when the district prepares for no new state funding for the next two years and other looming budget reductions.

“They each have families and commitments like the rest of us, and work very hard on behalf of our staff and fellow employees, so we know this gesture may not have been an easy one, but it is truly valued,” said Bartolotta. “It is the right thing to do as many of our families and community members are faced with frozen wage increases as well.”