Rulffes’ pay cut doesn’t pacify union

In recognition of hard times, Clark County School District Superintendent Walt Rulffes is taking a 10 percent reduction in salary, about a $30,700 pay cut.

The superintendent is making the gesture as the union for district principals and administrators accuses him of giving "preferential" treatment to teachers.

While the district's contract with teachers was tentatively extended from last year and not cut, administrators and principals expect to see a half-percent dip in their paychecks today, the first issued for the new fiscal year that began July 1.

The latest edition of The Unifier, the newsletter for the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional Employees, is predicting "plummeting morale and a loss of trust in the District leadership."

"It's ironic that administrators are asked by the superintendent to spend time ensuring an appropriate climate exists for their employees to complete their work," the union newsletter said. "It is too bad that administrators cannot expect the same in return from Superintendent Rulffes."

If there is a "unilateral salary reduction" for administrators, the union plans to file a grievance with the state's Local Government Employee-Management Relations Board and take the dispute to arbitration.

At issue is the 1 percentage point increase in the employees' contribution rate to the Public Employees Retirement System, which went up to 21.5 percent of an annual salary on July 1.

State law requires employees and employers to equally split the cost of a rate increase. But Rulffes said the district is making an exception for teachers because of contractual language that requires the district to cover the entire increase in the PERS contribution rate.

District administrators, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, argue that Rulffes is wrong about the teachers' contract and that the district has never agreed to cover all increases in PERS for teachers.

The administrators union also noted that it would only cost about $600,000 to cover PERS increases for its members, while the district will have to spend about $5 million to cover PERS increases for teachers.

In a Thursday e-mail to School Board members, Rulffes said he is taking his 10 percent pay cut in recognition of the salary cuts administrators and support staff are taking to cover their PERS contributions. He also noted other district cuts, such as the elimination of hundreds of jobs and the likelihood of additional reductions for 2010-11.

"The district priority should be to save jobs and services to students," Rulffes said.

Rulffes is not asking for any compensation in return for his pay cut, such as extra time off. He also declined a 4 percent cost-of-living increase in 2008, which would have boosted his base salary from $307,000 to $319,000. In compensation for not taking the 4 percent increase in 2008, Rulffes did get more vacation time added to his contract.

School Board President Terri Janison said Rulffes' decision to cut his pay shows "true leadership. It's a difficult time for everybody. I do appreciate his willingness to step up."

School Board Member Carolyn Edwards said the superintendent was setting a good example for administrators.

"Anybody who's making a six-figure salary ought to be willing to at least examine if they can make sacrifices," Edwards said.

Administrator salaries range from $50,710 to $161,200. Unlike teachers, they work 12 months.

Edwards suggested administrators take voluntary furloughs, something the union has so far rejected.

"You may lose a day's pay, but you're also getting a day off," Edwards said.

Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug@reviewjournal.com or 702-374-7917.