Dist. 300 Seeks $130,000 in Bonuses for Three Employees for Hard Work on New Du Quoin High School
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Du Quoin Board of Education has voted 5-2 to apply for a $130,000 capital construction grant at the urging of architect Paul Lunsford that would bonus Supt. Gary Kelly, business manager Cory Robbins and Du Quoin High School maintenance employee Dane Porter for their oversight of construction of the new Du Quoin High School.
The funds would be expensed over the three-year life of the project and compensation would be retroactive to the start of construction of the Industrial Education building.
According to Dr. Kelly, architect Lunsford suggests the added compensation is customary on some projects because of their complexity and time consumption.
Cynics are already chiming in that "it's part of their job," a job that already pays Dr. Kelly over $120,000 a year and Robbins over $50,000 a year. Porter, who has shouldered a large number of the responsibilities, is an hourly employee of the district.
The bonuses have been talked about for the last three months and at one point most thought it was a moot point because of taxpayer criticism.
Board members say the grant would provide up to $20,000 a year for three years for Dr. Kelly, up to $15,000 for Robbins and up to $10,000 for Porter.
Dr. Kelly says that was the sum and substance of the proposal, but says he asked that it be amended to compensate all custodial personnel, kitchen personnel, etc. who have helped relocate over the summer to other parts of the campus.
"He (Lunsford) presented a letter to the board on compensation for the additional work on the project. There's a value in that," said Dr. Kelly. "We need to capsule all the work--me, Cory, Dane and the kitchen work. That's how it needs to be done. I don't think everyone understands that this can be written off to construction instead of take it from district funds." "I'm not an hourly employee," he continued. The majority of the board recognizes this. I may have to go in at 5 a.m. because a fire alarm went off," he said. He adds that he has attended out-of-district meetings on the project and day-in and day-out there is a lot of extraordinary planning and commitment that has gone into this project.
Voting to seek the added compensation were board members Larry Valier, Joe Day, John Vancil, Zach McPherson and Charles Rice. Voting "no" were board members Paul "Tiny" Brock and Mike Ward.
Some board members rationalize that the compensation is for work as some sort of construction managers. "If we don't do this it could cost us over $200,000," said one board members.
Yet, this compensation apparently has no connection to being able to certify or accept the buildings when completed.
Architect Lunsford--who has a vested interest in the project--also serves as construction manager.
There is no independent construction manager or site superintendent. Lunsford has a construction foreman and a couple of assistants on his staff. Lunsford is on the site almost daily and said there is a very critical eye on this being a campus the community will be proud of. Dr. Kelly says the school district is saving money because of this approach. He said when finished the board will accept the buildings and a one-year guarantee on them.
Dr. Kelly called the Lunsford letter to the state an "eye opening" document that needs some editing to make sure that all who have added time invested in the project are fairly compensated.