Calif. School Superintendent Volunteers for $800K in Pay Cuts
- Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:00pm by
Buck Sexton
- Print »
- Email »
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Some people give back to their community. Then there’s Fresno County School Superintendent Larry Powell, who’s really giving back. As in $800,000 — what would have been his compensation for the next three years.
Until his term expires in 2015, Powell will run 325 schools and 35 school districts with 195,000 students, all for less than a starting California teacher earns.
“How much do we need to keep accumulating?” asks Powell, 63. “There’s no reason for me to keep stockpiling money.”
Powell‘s generosity is more than just a gesture in a region with some of the nation’s highest rates of unemployment. As he prepares for retirement, he wants to ensure that his pet projects survive California budget cuts. And the man who started his career as a high school civics teacher, who has made anti-bullying his mission, hopes his act of generosity will help restore faith in the government he once taught students to respect.
“A part of me has chaffed at what they did in Bell,” Powell said, recalling the corrupt Southern California city officials who secretly boosted their salaries by hundreds of thousands of dollars. “It’s hard to believe that someone in the public trust would do that to the public. My wife and I asked ourselves ‘What can we do that might restore confidence in government?’”
Powell’s answer? Ask his board to allow him to return $288,241 in salary and benefits for the next three and a half years of his term. He technically retired, then agreed to be hired back to work for $31,000 a year — $10,000 less than a first-year teacher — and with no benefits.
“I thought it was so very generous on his part,” said school board member Sally Tannenbaum. “We get to keep him, but at a much lower rate.”
His move was so low-key, his manner so unassuming, that it took four days after the school board meeting for word of his act to get out to the community. There were no press releases or self-congratulatory pats on the back.
“Things like this are what America is all about,” said friend Alan Autry, Fresno’s former celebrity mayor who played Capt. Bubba Skinner on the TV series “In the Heat of The Night.”
“America is as much about overcoming obstacles in difficult times as it is opulence,” Autry said. “This reminds me of the great sacrifices made throughout our history, especially the Great Depression.”
No one has been more surprised about the positive reaction than Powell, a lifelong educator who didn’t realize that what he did was newsworthy. He chuckles at his desk when yet another e-mail arrives from a colleague blown away by his generosity. Two days after word got out he had received 200 messages on his Facebook page.
“When you make good choices, good things happen to you,” said Powell, who tends to talk in the kind of uplifting phrases that also make him a sought-after motivational speaker.
He even sees as an asset his childhood contraction of polio, which left him with a limp and a brace, and now a lingering post-polio syndrome.
“It’s the most spectacular thing that has happened to me in all my life,” he said. “People stepped up to help me be successful.”
Powell might credit others, but others say Powell’s drive always has come from within. Despite the right leg brace and experimental operations to stop the growth of his healthy leg, he became a champion high school wrestler in Fresno and set a record for one of the most dreaded of all gym class drills — the 20-foot rope climb, which he completed in 1.8 seconds. Today he carries a six handicap in golf.
After moving into school administration he became deputy superintendent, and was appointed to his current job before running for the office in 2006.
The ordained Baptist minister, who serves on the board of a national anti-bullying group that sprang from the Columbine shootings, is so popular he even counts among his friends his contract bargaining nemesis, the former head of the employees’ union.
“For a leader to step up to help the budget is phenomenal,” said Mike Lepore. “It gives you hope. It gives you the feeling that everything is being done to try to make education work. It’s Larry. It really is.”
Powell will still earn a six-figure retirement, especially hefty by the standards of California’s farming heartland. But because his salary comes out of the district’s discretionary budget, for the next three years he’ll be able to steer the money he is giving up where he wants: to programs for kindergarten and preschool, the arts and a pet project that steers B and C students into college by teaching them how to take notes and develop strategy skills.
“Our goal has never been to have things,” Powell said of himself and his wife, Dot. “We want to give back.”
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 667 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 525 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 373 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 364 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 326 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 247 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 254 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order Read More
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 147 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 247 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (48)
BUDDY LITTLE
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 12:18pmHE is not doing this out of generosity or kindness!! He is doing it out of SHAME AND FEAR!! Every thing he get’s salary ,medical,pension,and perks easily add up the half million mark!! When he retires it just continues until he dies!! I would like to see him get this kind of money in the private sector!When you consider he’s running a failing system and would be terminated in the private sector long ago! He said it himself “No reason for me to keep stockpiling money”! greedy BAST$$$$$$ This is just the tip of the iceberg ?We should not praise the guy ,for finally showing some SHAME!
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 12:03pmWow. Great to hear good news about good people out there!
Just listened to the news from a California-based radio station KNWZ (streamed via the web)
and, their spin on it was different.
They said, he had decided to “retire today, and return tomorrow” on a school teacher’s salary of 31K/year.
Now, if that is the case, it locks in his retirement – based on his last 3 years income, and he begins drawing the benefits from it immediately.
Combine the fact that he is going to draw a 6-figure retirement, and another 31K for his new salary, and he is making a lot of money, still.
Now, I don’t mean to belittle his actions. But, they are not ENTIRELY selfless, based upon the facts I have gathered from independent sources.
Always QUESTION BOLDLY.
Report Post ».
.
.
(And, FOLLOW THE MONEY!)
.
.
.
callmechristina
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 9:38amwhat’s up with all you haters about this guy?
first of all, though it might sound like he makes a lot of money, it’s really not that extreme. plus california has a higher standard of living, and everything is more expensive there compared to most of the US
How many times have you accepted a job and said, “wait, that’s too much.. i don’t need that much.. jut give me $xxx”
this guy is doing a commendable thing. Are you a bunch of socialists commenting on this story?! Who cares how much money he has or how he made it? If he’s not doing anything illegal or unethical.. then leave him alone. Sounds like he‘s a guy who’s well educated and did all the right things in life… being RESPONSIBLE…..FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. and you guys want to pound on him… for what?! Being successful, living life by the rules presented to him, then giving back when he feels he should… yeah what a despicable guy. come on people…. what’s wrong with you? if you want to be angry, be angry at those who make the rules.. but don’t hate on this guy.
Report Post »BUDDY LITTLE
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 12:47pmUNETHICAL! …Even he feels it unethical! “ no reason to keep stockpiling money”? his entire motivation is based on an ethical dilemma!
Report Post »callmechristina
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 2:25pmthe point is… as an american he has the right to stock pile as much money as he likes… and give it away as he likes….
a starting out teacher usually doesn’t have the experience or education it sounds like this guy has. he’s worked up the ladder…starting out as a civics teachers. when he does stop working this job, the next guy will make the 275k. what’s unethical about this guy? if you don’t like the system… change it
Report Post »CaliDreaming
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 12:28amIt’s is not the bloated salaries killing California but the pension and medical benefits he will collect for the next 30 years he is alive. Just take a look at the 100k+ pension club. Real names. real people…
Report Post »http://www.californiansforpensionreform.com/database.asp?vttable=calpers
This_Individual
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 10:34pmHis choice.
Ron Paul 2012!
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:47pmNow if Mr Lepore and union leaders throughout the country follow the leading example of this man…………..
I was thinking of holding my breath and waiting~~ but I would die………………..
so instead I will work on family and voting 2011, 2012…for change I can see on a ledger sheet!
Report Post »Disnylv
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 11:57pmMaybe his fat wallet is speaking guilty guilty guilt to him? Maybe he will or won’t, but in the end, it is not my responsibility. What is is to speak the truth, share that truth help my family and work on myself to be prepaired for the next time when the disaster might wipe out to sea all of the east coast, or an earth quake shake all of the west coast, or any other number of warnings or full blown assualts on mankind.
Report Post »BUDDY LITTLE
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 1:00pmSENSE BELL ,CAL.! All state ,city and county employees, have been in fear of their bloated Salaries .
Report Post »ObserverOnTheHill
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:24pmVery generous indeed, however I would like to know how long he made almost $ 290 k / year and what hi pension pay is. Most of us have no pension coming tous, only what we put away in IRA / 401k plans etc; And Pelosi and Reed want to take from me when they never put in a penny toward my retirement – which ain‘t lookin’ so great anymore. I’m thinking I should fill out the Walmart greeter application now to get a jump on all the retired people who will be in competition for the job later.
Report Post »Susie
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:12pmCompensation of $800,000 over only three years ???
Report Post »How much has he been been making to warrant that ?
No wonder California’s economy is in the toilet.
username112973
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 8:45pmI’m pissed off this superintendent was making over $275,000 per year! WTF!!! America is upside down. How about paying the guy $75,000 per year and hire five more new young teachers at $40,000 per year. Give me a break, CALIFORNIA. Give it back to Mexico!
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 8:55pmCalifornia?
You don’t get out much, do you?
It is happening everywhere.
Report Post »beekeeper
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:05pmYou can’t hire 5 teachers for $200,000/year. First off, the salary is $41,000/year, but that $1,000/year difference is nothing. Add in the cost of the pension benefits, healthcare benefits, etc. and it all adds up pretty quickly. A first-year teacher likely costs almost $65,000/year.
As for your indignation at his making over $275,000/year, he’s overseeing almost 200,000 students, which likely means around 10,000 teachers… add in janitors, administrators and others, and you could EASILY be looking at 15,000 employees – what should he earn? He has choosen to lower his salary to 3/4th of what a first-year teacher makes, and a first year teacher has responibility over what, a couple dozen students?
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:08pmOstensibly, it’s a public service, so there would be no reason to give this money back – EXCEPT for the fact that government shouldn’t be involved in education AT ALL.
How about the whole public school system shuts down and we all get our money back? We don’t need government to teach us anything – the government would not exist were it not for an already existing economy from which it derives funding through taxes.
Get it? If the economy exists PRIOR TO the government, then we don’t need government to help with the economy. That’s not even why it was set up in the first place.
Government run education is a money sink, as are all central planning programs.
Report Post »positive1
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:32pmWe don’t sacrifice our children in volcanos…..We sacrifice them in the public school system…$275K A YEAR FOR 1! MANAGER, NOT A LEADER (OK maybe the leader of socialism, communism, beauty contest, brainwashing, and media manipulation), BUT! AT THE EXPENSE OF FREEDOM AND LIBERTY…… YOU GO CALIFORNIAN’S!..are you SACRIFICING the Hispanics next? since AMERICANS ARE LEAVING BY THE MILLIONS.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:40pmIn Texas, I looked it up one time, and they had a bi-lingual teacher making 3 digits, while normal teachers make around $47,000 a year, not including benefits. Could find out what their benefits package was.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:44pmI just thought of something. Schools are paid out of property taxes. With everyone losing their homes and having to rent or being out on the street, didn’t that cut the money going to education? Won’t they have to pull out of the general fund to make up the loss, since the unions won’t let them lower the pay or fire people? Another aspect of Cloward and Piven.
Report Post »positive1
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:44pmIF this greedy BASTTARD would retire and get out of the way, the Next greedy BASTTARD could get a job of $275K…..What a world we live in!……GREED…..and ignorance. the highest of standards.
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 10:34pmThis state will be it‘s own nation before it’s citizens allow the fedralees to hand us over to the toilet down below. I’m becomming more for the secession of the whole Southwest, as our issues are becomming locally solidified, while the rest of the nation floats away into federalization.
Report Post »BUDDY LITTLE
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 1:10pmBEEKEEP you need to add all his perks,health care ,pension and so on! Then consider the runs a failing system! Next he will retire,and come back on the payroll as third party employee and get his double dip!!
Report Post »redsred
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 8:32pmsomeone please tell whoever tannenbaum is, and half of the dolts doing commentary here that IT IS NOT ABOUT THE MONEY!!! Spendafornia could blow away $800k before breakfast, and usually does. this is about a man’s integrity, his willingness to make a difference, a man who actually cares. did he publicize this? NO! was he looking for political benefit? NO!
wake up America. when you find a real American, try to recognize it.
Report Post »carbonyes
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 11:14pmYou sir and Beekeeper are 100% right. Some of the other dolts that have commented, and they are dolts, at least for today’s comment postings, remind me of those on the liberal left who always complain about someone earning their due earnings.
Report Post »Bruce_Almty
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 8:29pmAnd how much does Jerry Brown make as governor? And how many superintendents & other state employees are there in Cal. making more than the gov.? The Big One can’t come soon enough to make Nevada ocean front.
Report Post »PrfctlyFrank
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:51pmAnd the lifeguards make $125 to $200k in that state.. Make Powell the Governor, get rid of the Board of Reclamation, and 2/3rds of the rest of the BS programs in that place and you may have a prosperous and beautiful state again.. Probably end up with the most beautiful state in all of Mexico..
Report Post »notmeatglennbeckdotcom
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 8:05pmJust another story that shows the problem we have here in America.
Report Post »Marnin
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:53pmJust a hunch, but I bet he isn’t a liberal….
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 8:20pmSounds like it, and the question is what will the school board do with his offer — aside from the high chance of using it for salary increases of their own. I highly doubt they will use it wisely, say for the improvement of schools or actually to hire good teachers.
Report Post »beekeeper
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:16pm@SNOWLEOPARD – did you read the entire article?
“Powell will still earn a six-figure retirement, especially hefty by the standards of California’s farming heartland. But because his salary comes out of the district’s discretionary budget, for the next three years he’ll be able to steer the money he is giving up where he wants: to programs for kindergarten and preschool, the arts and a pet project that steers B and C students into college by teaching them how to take notes and develop strategy skills.”
As superintendent he WILL direct the money where he wants to, Pre-K, K, art classes and an intervention class for B and C students.
And it’s not an “offer” it is an ACT – the deal is done:
“His move was so low-key, his manner so unassuming, that it took four days after the school board meeting for word of his ACT to get out to the community. There were no press releases or self-congratulatory pats on the back.” [emphasis added]
Report Post »Old Truckers
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:43pmA rare man indeed.
Report Post »I can only respect him, and his wife.
I do not however expect to see others following his good example.
jharper
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:39pmThe school systems are in shambles. With 76 % graduating but unfit for higher education, they should all take a cut. Abolish the D.O.E..
Report Post »beekeeper
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:19pmWe somehow invented the atom bomb and put a man on th emoon BEFORE the DOE was created by President Carter, and since he created the DOE out test scores have been stagnant…
Next time you visit D.C. take a look at the DOE building – it’s MASSIVE!
Report Post »MiCurmudgeon
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:26pmThank God for the good guys!!!!!
Report Post »Ella
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 10:20pmFinally the guilt must have got to him or he made a lot of money somewhere else; perhaps lotto or an investment. His salary was a travesty to the taxpayers. It would take me 24 yeras to make $800,00 and I’m a teacher, (in a private school)
Report Post »Hobbs57
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:24pmGood for him. He is not a union member and doesn’t have that mentality. I have the most challenging time relating with these far left professors at school. It is almost as if they are intimidated by me because I am 36 year old who with a great deal of life experience. However, they often become arrogant and try to discount my wisdom in place of the integrated knowledge they have adopted as the living word. I can only imagine the head aches this man must have dealt with over these years trying to run all those schools. Many of those lefty‘s can’t understand life without placing a significant value on possessing materials.
Report Post »MBA
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:21pmI’m sorry there is no school administrator worth $267,000 a year. The educational system is the worst and an embarrassment to this country. Not to mention California is leading the charge for economy failure in this country. What a mess.
Report Post »beekeeper
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:23pmHe oversees the education of almost 200,000 students every year, at 325 schools – what should he earn? He likely earns less than the district manager for Wal-Mart that covers the same area, he has dozens of years in education and had to be elected to the position…
Report Post »republic2011
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:20pmAll the power to him, but it doesn’t restore my faith in government. It restores my faith in man and his ability to be charitable and stand up for what they believe in. He is an individual contributor. That’s what makes this country great.
Report Post »WhoIsTheCoon
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:19pmYeah because he really needed 800k to run schools on the public’s back anyways… Ridiculous.
Report Post »beekeeper
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:26pm325 schools, 195,000 students, over 10,000 teachers – what should the job pay? If you do the famous “CEO multiple” he makes 6x what a first-year teacher makes.
Report Post »shirelover
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:18pmMy hat is off to you sir, thank you
Report Post »SLARTIBARTFAST
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:16pmWow!
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:15pmSounds like a decent guy. No, he is not hurting but it sounds like he is being a good steward with what God has given him. I do not have enough information to really praise or condemn but from what the article says he is a straight up guy.
Report Post »beverlee
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:13pmThis truly heartens my soul.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:11pmAnyone who wants to do this kind of thing, shoud. Remember, he was already retired, so he isn’t hurting, and if he wants to help, let him and God bless.
Report Post »beekeeper
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:11pmHe retired to cut his pay, as noted in the story:
“He technically retired, then agreed to be hired back to work for $31,000 a year — $10,000 less than a first-year teacher — and with no benefits.”
When he stops working, in three and a half years, he’ll receive the six-figure pension he already earned. He apparently thinks he has enough money.
Report Post »