The pay cuts are supposed to reduce the administrative office’s expenses by at least $500,000, according to Deputy Superintendent of Transition Pam Twidwell, who made the recommendations to the Board of Education. The board voted 5-0 to accept Twidwell’s plan.

Ten administrators received pay cuts and demotions and six retired. The savings from the salary cuts of the 10 administrators still employed by the district total $190,558. The remaining $310,000 in savings will be achieved through retirements and the 19 eliminated positions.

School board members Leroy Porter and Jimmie Nolen have said the cutbacks are budgetary only and do not reflect on the work of the affected administrators.

Twidwell said after the April 4 meeting when the salary reductions were announced she did not expect all of the administrators to return next school year.

“Every situation is unique. I would believe in some instances that people leaving is a reality. Some may be able to weather the storm differently,” she said.

HEFTY CUT

Regardless, the hardest-hit victim of the paycuts is Brian Eccellente, who was serving as the district’s curriculum director for science. Eccellente was earning $68,414 at the time, according to district records. If he accepts his new assignment as a classroom teacher, Eccellente will make $38,566 a year, which represents a 44 percent pay cut.

Eccellente, who holds a master’s degree, has been with the district for 15 years and previously served as a classroom teacher, assistant principal and principal at Kerr Middle School. He was re-hired by the district for next school year, but his classroom teaching assignment has not been finalized. He is certified to teach zoology, physical science, general science, earth science and biology.

None of the affected administrators, including Eccellente, have announced if they will stay with the Mid-Del district. Twidwell said April 4 that none of the administrators have turned down their new assignments.

The pay cuts ranged from $5,334 to Eccellente’s $29,848 salary reduction, according to figures released by the district. Six of the administrators receiving pay cuts have been with the district for at least 10 years.

Five other administrators were hit with pay cuts of more than $20,000. They are Kartina McDaniel, Shonda Ballard, Richard Mullins, Jacob Freer and Amber Reid.

McDaniel was earning $62,129 but will face a $20,769 reduction, which is a 33 percent cut. McDaniel, who holds a doctorate degree and has been with the district for the past three years, will be reassigned as a classroom teacher. She currently works as the district’s early childhood director and facilitator.

McDaniel and Eccellente have earned their superintendent’s certificate and are qualified to work as a school superintendent.

McDaniel is certified to teach social studies, language arts and physical education at the middle school level.

Shonda Ballard took the secondbiggest salary hit when the board voted to cut her pay by $24,407. She is currently earning $60,559 but will be forced to take a 40 percent reduction if she stays with Mid-Del. Ballard has been with the district for the past 10 years and serves as an academic coordinator with a focus on advanced-placement instruction. She has been reassigned to work as the district psychologist, where she was once employed.

BY THE NUMBERS

Richard Mullins, the district’s alternative education principal, was hit with a $24,382 salary reduction. He is currently making $64,937 but will take a 37 percent cut if he accepts his new classroom teaching assignment. Mullins has been with the district for the past 14 years and worked as a teacher at Midwest City High School prior to his current assignment. He is certified to teach algebra, calculus, general math, geometry and trigonometry. He holds a secondary principal’s certificate.

Assistant principals Amber Reid and Jacob Freer will receive pay cuts of $22,726 if they stay with the district. Both were earning $57,527. Reid worked as an assistant principal at Kerr Middle School and Freer worked at Del Crest Middle School. Both have been reassigned to classroom teaching positions.

Reid is certified to teach high school math and elementary-age students. Freer is certified to teach physical education, U.S. history, Oklahoma history, government and economics.

Dale Dildot, an assistant principal at Jarman Middle School, was the third of the four middle school assistants to receive pay cuts. Dildot was earning $58,139 as an assistant principal, but will be forced to take a pay cut of $18,928, which is a 33 percent salary reduction. He has been reassigned as a classroom teacher. He is certified to teach at the elementary level.

Sheila Wilson, an assistant principal at Del Crest Middle School, will take a $12,922 pay hit. She is currently earning $57,527. The salary reduction represents a 22 percent pay cut. Wilson has been reassigned to as a classroom teacher. She is certified to teach at the elementary level, middle school language arts and middle school social studies.

Meanwhile, assistant superintendent for curriculum Katherine Hughes experienced one of the lighter salary cuts. She earns $93,101 and her pay was reduced by $8,516, which is a 9 percent cut. Hughes, who came to Mid-Del from Chickasha Public Schools with Superintendent Bill Scoggan six years ago, has been reassigned as the executive director for student services/homeless. Hughes holds a superintendent’s certificate.

The smallest reduction in pay amount was felt by Cindy Anderson, who currently works as a coordinator for advanced-placement instruction. Her salary was slashed $5,334 a year. She currently earns $45,209 and the reduction represents an 12 percent salary cut. Anderson has been reassigned as a classroom teacher and is certified to teach at the elementary level. She previously taught at Barnes Elementary, Carl Albert Middle School and Eastside Elementary.