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Schools

UPDATE: Superintendent Trades Raise for Vacation Days

D303 schools chief trades a three percent pay hike for extra holiday days.

Superintendent Donald Schlomann has given up a $7,500 raise in exchange for three vacation days to save the district money and do his part in tightening the budget belt.

"I'm trying to be cognizant to what's going on," Schlomann said. "When you are in a leadership role and asking people to take less or not as much, it's the right thing to do."

Schlomann was to receive a three percent pay hike this year. The raise was to go into a tax sheltered 403(b) plan per terms of the contract he signed with the district last September.

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Schlomann, whose contract includes a $225,000 base salary, insurance and a car allowance, said he'll forgo next year's increase as well if the economic conditions don't improve.

"Some people say I make too much already," he joked.

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Board members who approved the furlough said the superintendent's move had more worth than just savings to the district.

"Symbolically it really means a lot," said Board President Scott Nowling, noting that the amount would not do much to solve the district's budget woes. It projected a $5.8 million shortfall in the 2010-11 school year followed by a $7.1 million deficit in 2011-12.

"This is probably something that doesn't feel good, but it feels right," he said.

In recent years, the district has cut jobs and taken other steps to control costs in "tough, uncharted economic waters," said board member James Chimienti.

The vacation days must be taken between Christmas and New Year's.

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