Public school board eyes pay increase for top executive

Journal Staff The director of the public school board is in line for a big pay increase. Under Ontario’s executive compensation program, Jim Costello could see his salary rise by $27,000.

Journal Staff

The director of the public school board is in line for a big pay increase.

Under Ontario’s executive compensation program, Jim Costello could see his salary rise by $27,000. The director currently earns $197,480, but hasn’t had an increase since 2010 when rates were frozen for provincial school board executives.

Former board chair Jane Bryce said trustees at the Lambton Kent District School Board hope to bring Costello into the “mid-range” of $208,000 to $257,000 recommended by the province for a board its size.

“He’s very good, very excellent at his job,” she said. “It’s fairness. It’s a just thing to do.”

The compensation program allows boards to apply for increases of up to 5% per year for directors and superintendents.

Bryce said Lambton-Kent’s seven superintendents earn $159,219, within the recommended salary range of $140,000 to $185,000.

The province also required school boards to obtain public feedback on the compensation requests.

The board did not issue a news release alerting the public about the move, but did posts it on its website.

The deadline for public feedback passed on Dec. 27.