Corrections and Clarifications
Corrections and/or clarifications in regard to media misinformation.
Recently in the media misinformation was reported. The Winnipeg School Division provides the following corrections/clarifications:
March 8, 2007
Comparing apples to oranges
When comparing salaries it is important to compare salaries of individuals with similar job responsibilities.Chief executive officer (CEO) salaries should be compared to other CEO salaries, rather than to the compensation of politicians/policy makers that comprise a board or a government. Salaries of school division trustees would be an appropriate comparison to make with other city, provincial or federal politicians. Salaries of CEOs are higher than politicians/policy makers that comprise the board or government to which the CEO reports.
Comparing apples to apples
The compensation of the chief superintendent of the Winnipeg School Division is higher than the chief superintendents of the five other public school boards within the City of Winnipeg. (The Winnipeg School Division is almost twice the size of the next largest school division.) The Winnipeg School Division’s chief superintendent’s compensation is lower than the CEO positions at many other large Winnipeg organizations, including crown corporations, governments and universities, many with fewer employees.
Long service leave
All support, trade, custodial, clerical, specialized, technical, management and senior management staff are eligible for long service leave. The leave can be taken as days off during employment, or paid out upon retirement. Long service leave is a negotiated benefit.
The Consumer Price Index and Winnipeg School Division property taxes over 15 years
According to Statistics Canada, the Consumer Price Index for Manitoba increased by 39.9 per cent from 1990 to 2005. Property taxes in the Winnipeg School Division to support educational programs increased during this period by 30 per cent.
March 1, 2007
Increase in positions
The Winnipeg School Division has increased its staff complement since 2000-01 by 386 positions. Within this number, were:
- 290 educational assistants (formerly called teacher assistants)
-nine Aboriginal community support workers
-80 teachers and
-two senior administrative positions (Director of Aboriginal Education, and Director of Educational Technology).
The increase in educational assistants is totally due to the increasing number of students with special needs.
The Aboriginal community support worker positions and the Director of Aboriginal Education position were created to support the high number of Aboriginal students in this Division (approximately 25 per cent of the student enrolment).
One of the Division’s priorities over the past years has been to review and strengthen Aboriginal education initiatives.
The increase in teaching positions was largely due to the increase in the number of special education programs and support for reading intervention programs.
Unused sick time
There is no provision for any staff members, including senior administration to cash out unused sick time.
No bonuses
The Division does not give bonuses to any staff members upon retirement or at any other time.
Administrative Positions
There are 16 senior administrative positions.
There are 54.5 positions in middle management, which includes positions such as:
-administrative assistants
-workplace health and safety officer
-information technology administrators
-accountants
-human resources officers
-Building Department custodial and maintenance managers
-Purchasing Department buyers
-transportation supervisor
-payroll manager
-internal auditor
Economy of Scale
The total divisional administrative costs in the Winnipeg School Division are lower than the provincial average and third lowest of the urban school divisions.
The instructional management and administration portion of these costs, which includes costs related to the superintendents and directors, is lowest among all urban school divisions.
