Hiring matter divides one city board member from the others

By MICHAEL D. McELWAIN (mmcelwain@reviewonline.com)
EAST LIVERPOOL — The hiring of a substitute executive secretary Monday night brought the ire of one member of the East Liverpool Board of Education.

“This is an insult to every certified and non-certified substitute that works in this district,” board member Janice Martin said. “I don’t know of any other substitute that makes this kind of money.”

The matter at hand — and the only matter on the agenda for a special board of education meeting — was to consider hiring Salineville resident Denise R. Ketchum on an as needed basis from May 19 to June 30.

Ketchum is to help fill the void in the Treasurer Daniel Telzrow’s office with the May 23 retirement of Judy Lewis.

Martin was concerned over the fact that the “substitute” executive secretary will be making a considerable amount more than a substitute teacher, for instance, who makes $102.32 a day.

“We’re changing something that’s been in place to meet this specific situation,” Martin said. “There’s no consistency here. There’s no governor on this train going down the track.”

Under the contract, Ketchum will receive a pro-rated pay during the term of her substitute secretary contract which is based on an initial salary of $26,500.

After a one-year anniversary, Ketchum will make $29,216.40.

Martin was concerned about setting the stage where an employee would be able to jump over normal advancements through the pay scale, and the fact that Ketchum will be paid a rate “way off the pay scale” as a substitute.

Board President Gary Bonnell defended the move and said defining the position as a substitute was a “misnomer” and the board was acting under advice from legal council.

“The only reason we’re looking at this as a substitute is because of the term of the contract,” Bonnell said.

If the board of education hired Ketchum immediately, it would have until June 30 to evaluate her job performance, according to Telzrow.

“It’s very imperative we make the right choices on employees and get an opportunity to review them,” Telzrow said. “It’s not wise to hire in May.”

Since she was also hired full time for the the next fiscal year starting July 1, Ketchum will work for 12 months on a probationary status until June 30, 2009.

The temporary, substitute contract also includes a $50,000 life insurance policy courtesy of the board of education — a fact that also concerns Martin since substitute teachers are not afforded the same consideration.

Telzrow said out of some 50 initial applicants, the list was narrowed to nine or 10 that were offered interviews. After a background check, the list was narrowed to a pool of four.

The final two applicants under closer consideration both said a salary in the area of $30,000 a year would be acceptable.

Bonnell said given the job market demand and the need to fill the position, the district had to pay a competitive wage.

“It’s important that everybody understands that this is an executive secretary position,” Bonnell said.

Including Telzrow, there are five employees in the treasurer’s office. Each are assigned various duties including the oversight of the district’s payroll, employee benefits, accounts payable, distribution of the district’s medical plan and oversight of more than $3 million in federal grants.

Martin’s concern about skipping pay grade steps was discussed further and Bonnell said he did not like steps in the first place.

“I think they (steps) ought to be eliminated,” Bonnell said, adding that the topic came up several times during recent negotiation sessions with teachers. The board president added that because of the salary scale step system, employees get “pay increases no matter what their performance is.”

Telzrow at one point admonished the board saying he felt the issues raised were better served with a private discussion in executive session rather than in Monday night’s more open forum.

Martin said she had no personal animosity toward Ketchum and said she has never met her, but in the end, Martin voted against the matter.

The board voted 4-1 in favor of extending Ketchum a contract as substitute executive secretary to the treasurer from May 19 to June 30 and as a regular employee of the district from July 1 to June 30, 2009.