From ColoradoWatchdog.org:  A Colorado lawmaker wants to make sure the public gets advance notice when poor-performing school districts are considering giving raises to administrators.

HB 1162, introduced by Rep. Clarice Navarro, R-Pueblo, would require seven days advance notice of meetings in which school governing boards discuss salary increase proposals for district superintendents, principals or vice principals of schools operating under priority improvement or turnaround plans.

The measure applies to all public schools, including charter schools.

The bill would also require that if the board decides to move forward with a pay raise, it give another one-week notice before voting. The legislation requires boards to allow public comment on the salary increase prior to a vote.

The bill is scheduled for a hearing in the House Education Committee on Feb. 22.

“I philosophically have a problem giving raises to already highly paid administrators (when compared to the median income of the communities in which they serve) when the school is either in turnaround status or failing. Some of which have been in that status for quite some time,” Navarro wrote in an email to Watchdog.org “My question then becomes: Are the taxpayers, parents and students getting their bang for their buck?  In my opinion they are not, and if raises are being given to Administrators (defined by me as Superintendents, Principals, Vice-Principals and CFOs) I have to question the priorities.”

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