Superintendent Daniel A. Domenech wants the pay for Fairfax principals to be competitive with, if not higher than, surrounding markets.
He made a request to School Board members during a work session last Monday, Feb. 9 to move principals up the pay scale, an action that will cost $260,000 overall.
"I urge you for approval of this," Domenech said. "As a board, you are experiencing a leadership drain at this time."
Board member Ilryong Moon (At-large) said he supports the increase, but "teachers have the right to demand the same."
Stuart D. Gibson (Hunter Mill) agreed. "I think we need to increase administrators' salaries, but I'm very concerned about the message given to teachers," he said.
Kathy L. Smith (Sully), a former teacher, supports Domenech's revised pay scale.
"It's always the comparisons that kill us," she said. "I think we have to send a strong message to principals that we honor and appreciate what they do. We are on track to help our teachers, but this is the right time to help our principals."
"We have to attract the best," said Phillip Niedzielski-Eichner (Providence).