Board approves pay raises for top administrators

Three percent was the magic number for school employees.
McDONALD -- The McDonald school board has approved 3-percent pay increases for the school superintendent and two principals.
The board rehired Superintendent Michael Wasser Tuesday under a three-year contract running from Aug. 1, 2005, to July 31, 2008, at $74,263 in the first year, $76,949 in the second year and $78,785 in the third year. Wasser had been making $72,100.
High school principal John LaRocca, who had been making $68,076, was rehired under a new two-year contract running from Aug. 1, 2005, to July 31, 2007, at $70,118 the first year and $72,221 the second year.
Roosevelt Elementary School principal Tony Russo, who had been making $62,466, was given a two-year contract. From Aug. 1, 2005, to July 31, 2007, he'll make $64,398 and from Aug. 1, 2006, to July 31,2007, his salary will be $66,330.
The district's treasurer, Thomas Radabaugh, had been given a 3-percent increase July 25. Earlier in the summer, the district's teachers and non-teaching employees received 3-percent pay increases.
In other business at its meeting Tuesday, the board approved a new $6.48 million fiscal year 2006 appropriation. Radabaugh said the budget's general fund increased by just under 3 percent over last fiscal year to $5.533 million. The increase, he said, is due to salaries, benefits, inflation and energy costs.