Principals to receive bonuses
$15,000-$25,000 stipends go to low-performing schools
By Diette Courrégé
Seventeen Charleston County principals who oversee the school district's lowest-achieving schools will receive more than $320,000 in bonuses this year for working at their respective schools.
The bonus money comes directly from the state and can't be used to cover the $13.3 million in mid-year state funding cuts or the projected $28 million deficit next year. But the supplement money could be used for other school-based programs, such as credit recovery courses or training for teachers.
The practice of offering the bonuses started three years ago under former Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson, and the goal was to attract experienced principals to its most needy schools. The district since has offered bonuses at some below average and unsatisfactory-rated schools to recruit the best applicants.
Click to enlarge the bonus list.
The stipend amounts range from $15,000 to $25,000 annually, depending on whether it's an elementary, middle or high school, and the extra money was promised for three years. The state has guidelines for ways the intervention and assistance money can be used, and schools must submit plans annually to show how they will spend it to help the school overcome its academic challenges. Recruitment bonuses are permissible.
Statewide, 462 schools receive $68 million of this kind of state money, and 63 schools use a portion of that money for recruitment bonuses. State money aside, it's common for schools to offer signing bonuses to administrators and teachers in hard-to-fill areas such as math and special education.
Current Superintendent Nancy McGinley said she supports recognizing those who are making progress and that the supplement should be tied to results. These bonuses essentially were signing bonuses, and McGinley said she wasn't going to renege on the arrangement because it was a condition of employment and a contractual obligation.
When the three-year period ends for principals receiving the bonus, McGinley said continuation of the money will have to be tied to results. Two of the principals who began receiving a stipend three years ago, Charles Benton at Burke High School and Dan Conner at Stall High School, received a one-year extension earlier this year because of the progress their schools have made.
One principal, Mary Runyon at West Ashley High, thought her school's budget might be cut and declined to accept a $25,000 bonus. The school took a substantial hit this year when it lost $90,000 in state intervention and assistance money, and the school used Runyon's bonus toward supports such as an extra guidance counselor for at-risk students, a student concern specialist, a technology facilitator and an assistant principal for the ninth-grade academy.
Charleston County School Board Vice Chairman Gregg Meyers was on the board when the bonuses began, remembers hearing about them but couldn't recall details. Regardless, Meyers said that he fully supports any effort to try to place the best principals where the need is the greatest, and his only concern with the bonuses was whether they were working and resulting in improvement.
"I want the most talented people where they are needed the most," he said.
Board member Arthur Ravenel Jr., who was elected in the fall of 2006, said he doesn't remember ever discussing this issue with the board and that he would have liked to talk about it so he could decide what he thought about this practice. He's supportive of performance bonuses but said he didn't know enough about the recruitment bonuses to have an opinion.
Reach Diette Courrégé at 937-5546 or dcourrege@postandcourier.com.
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NativeSon (anonymous) says...
Excuse me! Then no stimulus money!
March 19, 2009 at 3:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GG (anonymous) says...
Mary Runyon is the hero of this bunch. What a selfless act to return her bonus so it could be used to improve her school.
I wonder if I would do the same. Makes me think.
March 19, 2009 at 5:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
franksnbeans (anonymous) says...
this is a joke, right? Tell me it's a joke? "bonus", as in reward for doing a stellar job? And they're STILL underachieving schools??? Oh PLEASE give us a voucher system!!!!
March 19, 2009 at 5:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Reader (anonymous) says...
It is the school district's version of AIG.
March 19, 2009 at 5:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandnateater (anonymous) says...
This is BS...should have known this was something Goodloe started. Folks if you think CCSD is the only place this happens in the state system, you are wrong. There is so much corruption in state gov't when it comes to salaries, it's scary. Look into the SC Teri program. It's the biggest bunch of BS there is. It's completely corrupt now. It was intended to keep GOOD teachers for 5 extra years. It was only intened for education and keeping good teachers in the system for 5 extra years.....but now you can find it being used in every aspect of the state gov't for whatever position title you hold. I know of a DOT employee that is TERIing right now, there are many in that dept that do it. DOT and Education, what has it got to do with education? There is a lot of this in every dept of the state, education related or not. Look in to it!! You will be shocked. It's double dipping! IT NEEDS TO BE ABOLISHED!
March 19, 2009 at 5:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eatmorecollards (anonymous) says...
Bonuses (incentives) are a joke, when I worked in government I remember the top dogs always got them. What was left over went to be divided up between a few of the peons. Incentives always caused more hate and discontent than they were worth.
March 19, 2009 at 6:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammer (anonymous) says...
you must be kidding me?? bonuses for failing schools???? our AIG for sure..
until you raise our stats up ABOVE the bottom half of the country you shouldn't get a dime extra, due to the fact that we are still at the bottom in the country you should be lucky you aren't fired... bonuses???? there's got to be someway for us to have more control over where our money goes than this, totally ridiculous...
March 19, 2009 at 6:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pirate42 (anonymous) says...
Yes NO Stimulus Money... Lets keep eye on theses Dogs...
March 19, 2009 at 6:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cwmcpa (anonymous) says...
Gee folks it is not like our School district is run by the same idiots in Washington DC. Soon Seattle Washington will be the Mecca for truck drivers and illegitimate births.
Hopefully Washington will do like Charleston and send this group packing. As far as bonuses are concerned, as long as they are based on merit and performance I agree with monetary rewards.
March 19, 2009 at 6:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mb300sl (anonymous) says...
Sounds familiar...what BS!
March 19, 2009 at 6:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JoanneH (anonymous) says...
If someone had to get the bonuses, why not the teachers who ACTUALLY worked with the students? Please give me a break on how the principals oversaw the improvements. They just shuffled the paperwork.
But I'm glad it won't go to credit recovery. That is one of the biggest boondoggles going on in this state now, but no one knows it.
Bonuses should be the first on the chopping block.
March 19, 2009 at 6:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
badplf (anonymous) says...
where's barney frank when you need him?
March 19, 2009 at 7:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tellthetruth (anonymous) says...
It's not the principals to whom you should be upset. Like our goverment, blame the recipients of waste and ignore the administration that is responsible for implementing the waste! Americans are really the stupidest people on earth.
March 19, 2009 at 7:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Not bad work when you can get it; get a bonus just for showing up to work. What do you want to bet that the young folks are taught today just like they were last year by the same people. People refers to the administration, not the teachers. Teachers actually do a pretty fair job considering difficult conditions and restrictions, an antiquated education model for our times and culture serving only the education business, and a allowing the federal government to dictate control of the schools to the students.
March 19, 2009 at 7:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Post and Courier, twice this morning I've been refreshed while writing a comment, neccessitating a redo. I'm sick of it. Get your act together. This is not rocket science these days. You make made me cuss.
March 19, 2009 at 7:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinabearcat (anonymous) says...
Most of you people are a joke, your just jealous that someone got a bonus and you did not. If the parents of these student would get involved heir child's life maybe
the schools would improve. The teachers of today should
be given all the help and support we can, because the students (not all of them) are out of control, JUST LIKE THEIR PARENTS. The courts have seen fit to put the students
in control and not the school system. I am not an X school
teacher, but a parent who did get involved in their childs
education at a public school. My children are now both high paid professionals and they get bonuses too.
March 19, 2009 at 7:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oldglory (anonymous) says...
I remember when there were NO bonuses for jobs well-done. People were just thrilled to have a well-paying job! Ahh but now I've lived long enough to have seen it all (or at least almost all, I hope!)
March 19, 2009 at 7:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
capnphil (anonymous) says...
19 or so against the bonuses. Multiply by 200 +/-, the typical number a person who calls their representative or writes a letter to the editor represents in the Sciences of Statistical Survey, hmmm, what do you get? If you all DON'T CALL your school board members, you have no one to blame but YOURSELVES. By the way, teachers should have received the bonuses!
March 19, 2009 at 8:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
"The practice of offering the bonuses started three years ago under former Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson",
She was a fine piece of work whose tenure here will be felt by the taxpayers for years to come.
"Current Superintendent Nancy McGinley said she supports recognizing those who are making progress"
This one is just as bad.
Signing on bonus, annual bonus, probably a bonus for getting fired.
Bonuses for doing a good job, bonuses for doing a poor job, and obama is going to pay for everything with "his" stick it to us money.
The government keeps ringing the bell and the feeders at the trough keep salivating.
Time to (fill in the blank)_________ the bell ringers and the bell.
Blind_eyes, your a mentally deficient disgrace to the human race.
March 19, 2009 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
counterpoint (anonymous) says...
I say you all jump off a cliff.
March 19, 2009 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
I wrote them complaining again about the refresh theronce. I complained repeatedly before and it was taken off of the pages with forms on them. It came back when they changed the format, so I've started complaining again. Anyone else irritated by the page refresh please add your voices and get them to remove it, at least from pages with forms like these.
Alan Seim - Charleston.net Editor - seima@postandcourier.com
Chris Hall - Web News Editor - cmhall@postandcourier.com
Rustin Jarrell - Web News Editor - rjarrell@postandcourier.com
lsa McDowell - Associate Editor - elsa@postandcourier.com
March 19, 2009 at 9:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grits1973 (anonymous) says...
GG-yeah, kudos to the West Ashley High principal for rejecting her bonus, but the real question is -- why was West Ashley High included in the bonus program? If the goal was to recruit and keep top-level principals at the worst-performing schools, then I'm confused. West Ashley High would be an easy fill when it comes to getting a principal -- isn't that one of the better public high schools in the county?
March 19, 2009 at 9:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alsgal2986 (anonymous) says...
Mary Runyon is the best thing to happen to West Ashley High. She is a bonus herself. If you need to discuss your child's situation with her, she jumps right into action and makes you feel as if your child is her one and only concern. She will not stop until she is satisfied that the issue is resolved in the best interest of the student. We absolutely were impressed with her program additions and her interventions before we read this story, so we are not surprised. She is selfless, dedicated, and a true champion for students. Thank you, Ms. Runyon for a job well done!
March 19, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eatmorecollards (anonymous) says...
I'm not having any trouble with the refresh. Maybe its to do with your computer settings or the browser you are using.
March 19, 2009 at 9:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TLG87 (anonymous) says...
The first thing that came to mind was the AIG of SC schools. I do give kudos to the principal who returned her bonus for school improvement.
March 19, 2009 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
my2cents58 (anonymous) says...
Hats off to Mary Runyan. She did what Jesus would do. She put the needs of her students first. She also kept someone out of the unemployment line. She kept food on someone's table. She kept the light and water on in someone's home. God Will bless her richly. What happened to the bonus for the high acheiving teachers and teacher assistants. They are the ones who help students make gains in test scores. I remember in years past CCSD gave a countywide appreciation picnic for ALL employees. Teachers, teacher asssistants, office workers and custodial staff work really hard in the day to day operation of the schools. These people are under paid and unappreciated. They are the first to get verbally attacked, threatened,and cussed out by a student. THINK ABOUT IT!!
March 19, 2009 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
my2cents58 (anonymous) says...
Hats off to Mary Runyan. She did what Jesus would do. She put the needs of her students first. She also kept someone out of the unemployment line. She kept food on someone's table. She kept the light and water on in someone's home. God Will bless her richly. What happened to the bonus for the high acheiving teachers and teacher assistants. They are the ones who help students make gains in test scores. I remember in years past CCSD gave a countywide appreciation picnic for all employees. Teachers, asssistants, office workers and custodial staff work just as hard. Show them some appreciation. They are the first to get verbally attacked, threatened,and cussed out by a student. THINK ABOUT IT!!
March 19, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
It's a bad career move to become the Principal of a failing school. It taints the resume and there is huge pressure to turn around schools which may be impossible to fix. After all we now have enough choice with Magnet, Charter Schools and No Child Left behind that Parents who want to get their kids to better schools generally can. That is going to leave schools full of kids who aren't going to perform well because Parental and Community Support has fled. In a system with choice, some schools will end up being toxic failures which blight their attendance zones and drive almost everyone who cares about education away.
We can't just close all these failing schools. We don't have room elsewhere to put the kids and if we did move them elsewhere, it might drag those schools down. Someone has to run these schools. Anyone who can do the job properly is going to want extra to go there, as will the teachers.
The sad, weird fact is that Charleston County pays a lot more for its failing schools than it's successful ones. Sick people, criminals and mentally ill people cost more than healthy productive people. Everyone wants to teach or administrate a successful school with good test scores. They know they'll be able to get another, good job if they want. That is why Wando has stacks of resumes coming in and Schools rated deficient don't.
To sign on to teach at a bad school is to risk your future as an educator. We have the options of sending good people to do a hard, unpopular job and paying them extra to stay there or staffing these schools with people who can't do the job and utterly writing them off as these schools descend into absolute failure and Chaos.
March 19, 2009 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
supportfamilyfarms (anonymous) says...
The lower performing schools are also the ones with the most behavior problems and therefore, potentially more dangerous places to work than better performing schools. It seems reasonable that schools would need to provide incentives to recruit the talent required to successfully lead those schools in a turnaround. Then, after some reasonable time, base their ongoing employment and pay on measurable performance improvement.
Mary Runyan earned my respect for what she did with her bonus...I'm quite sure I wouldn't have done the same.
And enough with the AIG comparisons already...did any of you see those grandstanding Senators mouthing off at the new AIG president yesterday...he's been there about six months, came in to straighten things out and is working for $1 per year...and they try to make HIM out to be the bad guys, when it was the Senate's plan that allowed the bonuses to be paid in the first place.
Politics, government, the system or whatever you choose to call it, is an unproductive embarrassment...everyone taking credit, passing blame and accomplishing little of nothing meaningful.
I hope you'll join me in voting for new candidates to replace the incumbents in both the Senate and the House, preferably those with a business rather than political background. And, make a priority of spending at least an hour a night doing schoolwork your kids...better still, spend that time along with the money to send them to a good private school...the government schools can't be turned around fast enough for our kids...maybe by the time our our school age children have children, but based on the people we choose to represent us, I doubt it.
March 19, 2009 at 10:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ysillyme (anonymous) says...
It seems Mr. Reems has a good analogy. Why reward a program for failing? Principals are indeed like coaches, they can bring out the best and the worst in a student body. Coach K. today chastized Obama for not paying enough attention to the economy and paying too much attention to the NCAA brackets. There is Mr.Reems connection so it would seem. See drudgereport.com todays date.
March 19, 2009 at 10:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
OK - I hear you guys posting about how bad the schools are.....so how do you think you get talented people to fill key positions. How do you get a principal to say yes to working at a "Brentwood".
Plus, this was a hiring bonus, not tied to accountability. But McKinley says she wasn't for ANY future "bonuses" unless they were tied to performance.
You can't have it both ways posters, with your way of thinking they are darned if they do and darned if they don't.
Stop just giving the party line and think for yourselves. You are SOOOOOO against public education that you can't see past the forest and want to cut down ALL the trees.
March 19, 2009 at 11:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ysillyme (anonymous) says...
Hey looneyluna~
Not interested in cutting trees down, just liberals and black non-thinkers like you!
March 19, 2009 at 11:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
ysilly - yes, I see what type of people you are. YOU DON'T KNOW ME, FOOL!
You are exactly the distastful type of person that I try to avoid in life.
So glad I don't have to actually see you on a daily basis and I can completely ignore you in every other way.
If you are not part of the solution......YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!
March 19, 2009 at 11:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
Posted by ysillyme on March 19, 2009 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey looneyluna~
Not interested in cutting trees down, just liberals and black non-thinkers like you!
************
Is it that I am a liberal that you find so disagreeable or is the color of my skin?
Yep, you are a fool.
March 19, 2009 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
halfsheli (anonymous) says...
The bonuses are signing bonuses, not performance-based bonuses. Some teachers get them, too. At some schools (like Burke Middle when it opened -- not sure about now) and some in content areas (math, science) that need teachers, people are given a $10,000 bonus (usually attached with a disclaimer that says a teacher must stay at that school for at least 3 years).
It is very hard to find people willing to take on a school like Stall or NCHS, so CCSD gave signing bomuses as incentives to potential principals. In Stall's case, it was worth it. I think that Conner has made some progress there.
While I do agree that the bomus should be based on performance, I also know that it is hard to find people to take on the monumental task of running these schools. There is SO much state and district-level bureaucracy and politics that most choose to leave after a year or two.
But at the same time, if the district would back off and let these people do their jobs, then these schools could actually improve.
March 19, 2009 at 11:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Clemsurf (anonymous) says...
So my mom, who works at a high school for the CCSD, is losing her job at the end of the year because of a lack of funding. Also, all CCSD employees are having to take days off unpaid because there isn't enough money to pay them. So tell me how there is enough money for bonuses again?
March 19, 2009 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Concerned_too (anonymous) says...
The State newspaper in Columbia maintains an online database containing the salaries of all local (Richland & Lexington counties) school district employees who earn more than 50k per year. It is a great way to see who should be held accountable. Why doesn't the Post and Courier have such a database for Charleston County School District employees?
March 19, 2009 at 11:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
ysilly: "Hey looneyluna~Not interested in cutting trees down, just liberals and black non-thinkers like you!"
When you start honing in on race, you lose credibility.
There are certainly instances where race IS an issue and must be addressed and you should be able to do so without being called bigoted or a racist.
However this isn't one of those times.
You've just become the other side of the coin of blueeyes and luna.
You've just helped to denigrate this important conversation to the level of the loonie liberals you so complain about.
It's a shame. You probably have some very valid points to make but most level-headed posters aren't interested in listening to anyone who uses race as a tool of divisiveness or anyone who thinks of themselves superior to those of a different race.
And your comment today has painted you as such.
March 19, 2009 at 11:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
divinemscharleston (anonymous) says...
Posted by ysillyme on March 19, 2009 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey looneyluna~
Not interested in cutting trees down, just liberals and black non-thinkers like you!
____________________________
ysillyme - Ridiculously unacceptable...
March 19, 2009 at 11:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
What is soooo funny is that I am whiter than white.....day glow white, burn in a second white, only tan when my freckles grow together white.
I guess that only "black" people are supposed to stand up for each other?
I opt to stand up for justice and equality no matter the color.
I can't wait for the day we are ALL brown and skin color stops being an issue.
Back to the topic.......with the budget cuts our district is facing these signing bonuses should have been renegotiated. I applaud Ms. Runyon!!!!
March 19, 2009 at 12:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jus4all (anonymous) says...
I attended charleston county schools and I understand why there is a bonus in place. There are many challenges other than just educating a child that failing schools face. It's sad but true! Many prinicipals carry the weight on there shoulders when the school is failing and how do you keep teachers there when they can clearly go to another school with less drama.I was a child that wanted to learn! So I was able to progress. There was many referrals that took up class time. There were fists fights, food fights; just very disrespectful behavior towards teachers, students, and prinicipals. And that is not going into the abusive and drug/alcoholic abuse at the homes that causes the children to react at school, pulling the administration away from teaching the other children. Prinicipals and teachers deserve bonuses. Hopefully the teachers who are sacrifices their time will be rewarded one day. They're answering a call that many others talking about the problem would not want to deal with.
March 19, 2009 at 1:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandnateater (anonymous) says...
There is a site that has all sc state employess making over $50,000 and their current pay.....you will be shocked.
http://www.thestate.com/169/story/174...
March 19, 2009 at 5:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shoelaces (anonymous) says...
I can guarantee you the teachers do NOT receive any kind of a stipend or bonus for working at "lower" achieving schools.
I did not know principals earned a bonus for this!!!!!
March 19, 2009 at 5:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Draconian (anonymous) says...
Call your Legislators to sponsor the Education Opportunity Act S. 520. Government employment inside public school is about protecting jobs at the taxpayers expense. If we want a share of the stimulus, bonus, health care, retirement benefits then we all need to work for the government. I just wonder who is going to keep paying for all these government jobs when there is no taxpayer?
March 19, 2009 at 6:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AAE (anonymous) says...
Brentwood is closing, and for that, you get a bonus. Brava!
March 19, 2009 at 7:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinabearcat (anonymous) says...
bunch of cry babies sounds like Animal Farm or 1984 by G Orwell, but then probaby none of you have read them or for that matter any book (by the way can you read)???
March 19, 2009 at 10:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bunting (anonymous) says...
When former NCHS Principal David Colwell was "offered" to take state incentive money as a "bonus" for stabilizing and raising test scores, he refused. Several of his leadership team members were in a meeting with him when he shared that information with them. He called it "unethical." Shortly thereafter, Mr. Colwell left. And how many principals has NCHS had since then?
March 19, 2009 at 11:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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