CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Dear Principal:
The Archbishop has accepted a recommendation that the salary freeze be ended. This recommendation was made to him by the Archdiocesan Finance Council. Prior to accepting this recommendation, the Archbishop consulted with the presbyteral council today. The presbyteral council supported the Archbishop in accepting the recommendation of the Archdiocesan Finance Council. You may wish to also note the following salient points:
- Each pastor is free to work with this recommendation based on his consultation with local parish and school leadership. Some parishes may choose to retain the salary freeze based on their local financial conditions.
- The Finance Council recommendation accepted today suggested that the increase in salary range be one percent for parish employees. In order to support this salary range of one percent, the guidelines would be to increase the salary budget by between 1.5 and 2 percent.
- Note should be made that calculation in salary increases should include the concomitant increase for funding benefits since benefit costs go up with salary costs.
- Note should also be made that parish employees include those working in non-certified positions in the parish school.
- High schools are free to plan salary freezes or increases based on the recommendations of their consultative or governing boards.
- If parishes and their schools cannot support salary increases, then the pastor may wish to consider other options such as:
A) considering giving the increase in January 2011 instead of July 2010.
B) considering decreasing overall salary expense by decreasing hours.
C) considering allowing employees to ‘purchase’ vacation time thereby reducing annual salary cost of employee while increasing pay value for actual time worked.
In closing, I wish to thank you for working cooperative with last year’s salary freeze. Know, too, that a special committee titled “Salary Issues in Parishes and Schools” (SIPS) will continue to meet reviewing other issues raised during this past year’s salary freeze such as the disparity between wealthier and poorer schools and the relationship between parish employees salary increases and parish school salary increases. B) considering decreasing overall salary expense by decreasing hours.
C) considering allowing employees to ‘purchase’ vacation time thereby reducing annual salary cost of employee while increasing pay value for actual time worked.
Member of this committee are Father Michael McDermott, Pastor, St. Charles Borromeo, Tacoma; Father Time Sauer, Pastor, St. Bridget, Seattle; Father Jim PIcton, Pastor, St. Madeline Sophie, Bellevue; Fred Liebhaber, Pastoral Assistant for Administration, St. Thomas More, Lynwood; Brenda Nulliner, Pastoral Assistant for Administration, Mary Queen of Peace, Sammamish; George Hofbauer, Principal, St. Joseph Catholic School, Seattle; Katie Beyer, Principal, St. Mary Catholic School, Aberdeen; Kristin Dixon, Principal, Our Lady of Guadelupe School, Seattle; Karen Tarabochia, Assistant Superintendent, Personnel, Pat Sursely, Archbishop’s Delegate for Administration and Finances; Ed Williams, Director for Parish Financial Services; Mary Santi, Chancellor and Archbishop’s Delegate for Human Resources. I also serve as a member of this committee too.
Again, I would stress that the question of salary freezes or salary increases belong with the local pastor and his principal working with their parish and school leadership. Should you have questions regarding how to work with any salary freeze or salary increase in your school, feel free to contact Karen Tarabochia in the Catholic School Department at Karen.Tarabochia@seattlearch.org or call her at 206.382.4860.
May each of us continue to be good stewards of Christ’s gifts presented to us through his holy people.
With every best wish and blessings,
Yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Joseph J. Tyson
Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General
Superintendent of Catholic Schools
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