Talawanda school board passes administrator salary increases, responds to member ‘attacks’

The Talawanda School District Board of Education met on July 9 to continue the discussion of several topics from last month’s meeting – primarily, the board’s vote to approve salary increases for administrators over the next three years.

Unlike certified and classified staff, administrators are not part of a union and therefore have individual contracts. This does not include a salary schedule, so the initial salary offer remains the same, plus a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) negotiated with the staff unions.

The new contract addresses administrator salaries that do not benefit from the staff salary schedule model and allows for more competitive pay in the area.

In year one of the plan (Fiscal Year 2025), administrators will receive a $2 per hour wage increase based on a 40-hour work week along with a 4% salary increase. In the following two years (FY 2026 and FY 2027), a 3% and then 2% salary ‘step’ model will begin.

Additionally, $50,000 will be allocated toward administrator salaries, with a percentage given to each administrator. Superintendent Ed Theroux and Treasurer Shaunna Tafelski will decide on this distribution depending on factors like position and number of years with the district.

According to board president Rebecca Howard, this plan is a “modest increase” and will boost administrator salaries to nearly the median in Butler County.

School board member Pat Meade acknowledged that members of the district and the public have established opinions about Talawanda’s funds but said a decision was necessary.

“... While this proposal is [a] compromise, unfortunately sometimes we have to accept compromises,” Meade said, “and I hope that it is seen as a first step in making sure that we attract and retain quality staff to do the work that we need to do for the sake of our students, which is why we’re here.”

Public comment from June and July’s meetings indicated that the vote was highly anticipated, with multiple citizens returning to speak on the topic including Hanover Township resident Mike Dittman.

“It’s time to control spending, not increase salaries and benefits for Talawanda’s highest-paid employees,” Dittman said. “I urge you people to do your job for the community and the taxpayers.”

Mendy Napier of Milford Township echoed these sentiments, adding that the salary increases should not be approved at the expense of student transportation.

“As you discuss extravagant salary increases for your administrative staff, please keep in mind that you chose to prioritize scheduling over safety for our public school children,” Napier said.

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Following public comments,the budget model passed with a 4-1 vote and will take effect in 2025. Dawn King was the only member to vote against it.

Twenty-four administrators will benefit from the decision. These salary increases do not include the superintendent and treasurer positions.

Dawn King’s husband, Scotty King, also returned for public comment to address the confidential student information he claimed to have received from Tafelski and Theroux. Scotty King questioned why the issue was not fully discussed.

“No one contacted my wife Dawn [King] as a board member, or had any discussion about this issue,” he said.

However, Howard later said that Dawn King was not yet on the board when it decided a FERPA investigation of the incident was unnecessary.

“... At the time of the incident, the members who were on the board were satisfied that there was no need to move forward [with an investigation],” Howard said. “We had not revisited it.”

Tafelski also added that all staff will complete a new “fraud training” program through the Ohio Auditor of State.

“In light of discussions earlier by Mr. King, we are paying attention to this right now,” Tafelski said. “Measures have been put into place so that it never happens again.”

Last month, Dawn King called for the termination of Theroux concerning the confidential information her husband received. However, the motion did not receive support for discussion and vote.

During July’s meeting, Howard said the board was conducting its annual performance evaluations of the district’s superintendent and treasurer: the only two administrative positions the board oversees. As part of Howard’s evaluation of Theroux, she noted accomplishments reached during his time including increased attendance rates at all schools, record-high graduation rates and the implementation of safety measures in the district.

“I want to make it clear that speaking for myself as an individual board member, and in light of the unwarranted attacks on Dr. Theroux’s competence and character over the last several months, I stand behind Dr. Theroux as our district superintendent,” Howard said. “I invite my colleagues on the board to join me in this affirmation of support and responsible collaboration.”

Near the end of the meeting, member David Bothast responded to the harassment he has received over the past three years throughout his campaign and after winning his seat on the board.

“I’ll be honest with you and transparent,” Bothast said, “I had every intention tonight … to come here and resign from the board because I am done. I am physically and emotionally done with the vitriol and the abuse that my family and myself has endured since the launch of my campaign.”

In his comments, Bothast referenced his property being vandalized and trespassed and said that his family has had “very heinous things said about them” on social media. Bothast also mentioned an unidentified “community member” leveraging a private email against him that was sent to a Talawanda Middle School administrator out of concern for his son. This email was sent outside his board member duties and contained Bothast’s private family information.

“I have been told time and time again that [the email] is gonna be used against me,” Bothast said. “‘I’ve got damning information about you.’ For what purpose? To extort me for what reason? And what harm are you going to cause but a 14-year-old boy? You’re not gonna harm me.”

Bothast ended his comments confirming that he will not be resigning, but urged the district to focus on more positive issues.

“We gotta start celebrating good things,” Bothast said.

To close the meeting, member Pat Meade thanked Bothast for not resigning and responded to accusations of “collusion” between himself, Bothast and Theroux made last week by the same community member.

“Collusion involves secrecy and/or illegal things, so I ask him that if he wants to defame my character in public, he needs to be careful,” Meade said. “I don’t collude with Dr. Theroux or David … or any of the other board members here. I collaborate with them. And there’s a big difference. And we collaborate to do what’s best for our students, to do what’s best for our staff, and to do what’s best for our community.”

The meeting adjourned for evacuation following a tornado warning. The next board meeting will be held on Aug. 8 in Talawanda High School’s Performing Arts Center. A link to a virtual live stream option can be found here.

hirschr2@miamioh.edu