Victorville Trustees Cut Salary Deal 25%

Hoping to prevent a recall, Victorville school trustees renegotiated their contract with the district’s longtime superintendent, cutting the value of the four-year deal by a quarter to slightly less than $1 million.

But the action, taken late Wednesday, did not assuage some parents and teachers who were outraged by Supt. Ralph Baker’s compensation package, which was on a par with that of school chiefs in Los Angeles and New York City.

Some critics, pointing to program and budget cuts within the district, questioned whether Baker could effectively continue to lead the Victor Elementary School District.

“This new contract may have cost us less dollars, but it cost us quite a bit in morale,” said Deanne Ellison, president of the Lomitas Elementary School Parent Teachers Assn. She said teachers and parents planned to meet in coming weeks to decide whether to go forward with a recall attempt.

In April, district trustees approved a contract that would increase Baker’s $140,000 pay to $250,000 per year, offer him a one-time $200,000 bonus Aug. 1, annual $10,000 raises and lifetime health and dental benefits for him and his wife.

Baker, 55, has headed the High Desert district for more than two decades.

Under the renegotiated contract, Baker will be paid $185,000 starting today, $200,000 the second year and $220,000 the third year. The fourth year, Baker’s pay drops back to $185,000, but he will have to work 31 fewer days. He also will receive a $140,000 bonus Aug. 1, and medical and dental benefits until he and his wife reach 65.

“It was an outstanding compromise,” Baker said. “The board listened to the community, and I listened to the board and we get a 5-to-0 vote showing strong support of this contract.”

Some teachers and parents say they were pleased to see a reduction, but still considered Baker’s contract lavish compared with the 2% to 4% raises teachers have received in recent years.