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School District Facing Deficit Looks At Administrators' Paid Vacation

PLAINFIELD, Ill. (STMW) - The School Board in southwest suburban Plainfield might try to reverse its decision to give administrators four days of vacation during winter break — a $106,218 present of sorts — while the district faces a $6.7 million deficit.

The board is expected to vote on this issue once again at its 7:30 p.m. meeting Monday at the administration center, 15732 Howard St.

In September by a 6-0 vote, the school board approved a new work calendar that gave about 76 administrators four days of vacation to be used only during winter break. Those four days are valued at about $106,218 of work time.

The board made this decision despite concerns from Superintendent John Harper.

Since last summer, Harper has been telling the board he was against the paid vacation during winter break for 12-month employees because 10- and 11-month employees do not get the same benefit.

This school year as a cost-saving measure, administrators' salaries were frozen. The four days of paid vacation during winter break could be perceived as a salary increase, said Harper, who hopes to make his recommendations to eliminate the $6.7 million deficit before the holiday break.

The extra four days does not give the 12-month employees an increase in salary.

However, if they take four days off between Christmas and New Year's Day, they will be paid and not have to use their vacation time, said Spokesman Tom Hernandez. The four vacation days cannot be rolled over.

If they don't use those four days during the break, they will lose them. Certified administrators get 25 days of vacation and noncertified get 20 days of vacation.

© Sun-Times Media Wire Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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