Pay raise is ill-conceived

Most people who consistently fail to reach what may well be their professions’ most important tangible benchmark would be concerned about their job security.

If you are a principal whose school is in danger of state intervention, and your boss is Dothan City Schools Superintendent Sam Nichols, you have no worries — you may be in line for a new contract and a whopping raise.

That’s what Nichols is recommending for Northview High School Principal Ron Snell, whose school has yet to “meet AYP” — education jargon for the state Department of Education’s annual yearly progress measurement defined by the federal No Child Left Behind Act as the minimum level of academic improvement.

To be fair, Snell is not solely responsible for the ability of the student body of Northview to excel academically. And Northview’s shortcomings are shared by Dothan High School, which has also never met AYP.

However, Snell is at the helm and the school is his responsibility; the notion that consistent failure should be rewarded with a significant pay increase is lunacy.

Nichols wants the school board to approve a $12,000 a year increase for Snell and renew his contract for three years. The hike would increase his salary to $105,000 — significantly more than the school board pays Snell’s counterpart at Dothan High School.

Nichols fears Snell will seek work elsewhere. That’s certainly any employee’s prerogative, but it’s no reason to shower them with an extravagant pay hike.

School board members should dismiss this unreasonable request. Given the dismal state of education funding and Northview High School’s chronic academic challenges, this suggested pay hike is not a wise use of scarce education dollars.