Comments on: It pays to be a superintendent

By: OneSLzStudent

OneSLzStudent — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:07:30 +0000

I would just like to point out cuts are being made to the San Lorenzo Unified district that are damaging at students scholastic experience. Since I am a high school student in this district – I will not say which one – I will point out a sample of some cuts that may be made by the 2010-11 school year. According to one teacher, ten teachers will be removed in the district and funding to many activities. Such activities include after-school athletics. Funding after-school activities, in my opinion, is very important. Allowing students to pursue an interest means that they will be less involved in trouble making. That is a small sample for next year. In the past year, some classes have been cut and teachers have to deal with it. If we use Arroyo High for example, the AP Calculus BC class was cut preventing students from extending their math education if they desire. Since class amounts have decreased and teachers are only allowed to teach so many people, students who want a class may be removed from the class. If Dr. Dennis Byas has such an outrageously high salary, less funding will go to these areas. I do realize that this does not only apply to the San Lorenzo Unified District, but also other districts. It just seems to have a larger magnitude due to superintendent salaries. For those who have read this entire comment, thank you for spending time to read this.

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:54:59 +0000

You wonder how he can sleep at night. This sounds so similar to the bank bonuses. If a superintendent really cared about the education of the children and the hard working and dedicated people in the classroom, he would give up th excess to save the children from loosing out on a superior education. I wonder what that board was thinking in giving him so much.

By: KinderTeacher

KinderTeacher — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:25:13 +0000

I just received this info 8 months after it ran. The teachers in SLZ are totally aware of Byas’ obscene pay/perks schedule. He is even now, in January 2010, receiving additional monies — $10,000 —- to compensate for higher costs in his health plan. This district, as many others, are in the midst of budget negotiations, and at first look, there are NO cuts being made at the superintendent level. We have 3 superintendents-Personnel, Finance, and Byas–whose total compensation totals close to $1M dollars. I tried to remind a board member that schools are non-profit agencies, and as such should not be paying these exhorbitant salaries–she just said that is the standard. Well, the standard has to change. The SLZ school board over the last 10 years have rubber stamped salary increases for the previous 3 Supers–and two right before they retired. I worry that as soon as the other Supers in your report see these salaries, they will demand equal compensation for their services. We should also be looking at the top heavy Supers at the Alameda County Board of Education. Sheila Jordan probably tops all these Supers with a salary package totaling upwards of $300,000. Thank you.

By: From the outside looking in.

From the outside looking in. — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:56:32 +0000

Yes, you’re right, Dr. Byas could give away some of his perks to help offset the budget but I do want to point out that he didn’t give them to himself. Some of the smart people in this good district who hired him gave him the perks. Hmmmmm…..

By: Jane Doe

Jane Doe — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:28:06 +0000

San Lorenzo is totally getting ripped off. Why cut employee’s pay by 3%? If that moron “Dr” Byas would just give up his HOUSING allowance and his CAR allowance..that would save hundreds of thousands.. Why should someone have a car and housing allowance anyway? San Lorenzo homes are NOT that pricey and a car allowance???? What? To drive between schools? What? He’s not allowed to have a commute? AND San Lorenzo is so small, Ooooh 1.3 miles between Arroyo and SLz?? Wow, that’s far! His whole salary is STUPID.

By: Cranky Teacher

Cranky Teacher — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:35:40 +0000

Wow, San Lorenzo’s getting ripped off. That guy’s a joke, destroying what was a good district.

By: Joe Public

Joe Public — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:16:04 +0000

How do the salaries of the various CEO’s/superintendents for the many Charter Management Organization’s that exist in the district compare? Is that public information since they are publicly funded or do they get to “hide” this information behind the organization? Just trying to get an idea of a per cost by student break down for the top execs.