Sunday, January 2, 2011

It appears we were correct about Tyson's pension boost

Read this recent article published at

Superintendent’s pay hike could raise pension


By Jason Massad
jasonmassad@reporternewspapers.net

Interim DeKalb County schools Superintendent Ramona Tyson could receive a substantial pay increase when the DeKalb School Board meets Jan. 18, and the pay increase eventually could be a major boost to her pension through the state teachers’ retirement system.

Earlier this month, the DeKalb school board tentatively approved a deal for Tyson to receive a $238,000 salary, up from a current salary of $165,000. That’s a 44 percent increase.

The school board is required by state law to hold a final meeting on the pay raise at the Jan. 18 meeting because the district is experiencing work furloughs, according to school district officials. In 2010, the school district shed hundreds of jobs.

Tyson’s compensation is attached to an 18-month contract. Tyson, who took over as interim superintendent in February didn’t receive a raise at the time. She agreed to the salary she was making as deputy superintendent.

Board Chairman Tom Bowen, via e-mail, said that Tyson deserves the raise.

“The compensation matches exactly what would have been paid to the interim superintendent had the board known her role was going to be for the duration it has become,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the major pay increase could affect Tyson’s pension down the line.

A teacher or administrator in the district receives a pension upon retirement that’s largely determined by the two highest consecutive years of salary earned by that employee.

The potential jump in salary for Tyson, who has served the district 23 years, could increase her pension by tens of thousands of dollars every year after she retires.

District spokesman Jeff Dickerson said, “Ms. Tyson is unaware of the pension implications of the salary adjustment.”

Tyson couldn’t receive the increase in pension if she retired right away, said Jeffrey Ezell, executive director of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia.

Caps have been in place for teachers and administrators who started their service after July 1, 1984, that prevent employees from cashing in on end-of-career pay spikes that would artificially inflate their pensions.

Tyson originally enrolled in the retirement system in 1987, said Jamie Wilson, human resources director for the district.

If Tyson continues employment within any school district that participates in the state’s retirement system, the pay raise she could receive with DeKalb schools could elevate her pension by tens of thousands of dollars because it could serve as a base for her two highest paid years.

“Given how I think this works, the teachers retirement system will give her a significant bump, even if it’s five years from now. She will get it in the future,” said Nancy Jester, school-board-member-elect for District 1. She said Tyson has been doing a good job. However, she noted former Superintendent Crawford Lewis, now under criminal indictment related to corruption in the district, took years to earn the salary proposed for Tyson.

“I applaud her for her effort and the work she’s done,” Jester said. “But we’ve got teachers in this district stocking their own classrooms with basic needs. We can’t reward all of them to the extent we are trying to compensate her.”

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18 comments:

Anonymous said...

District spokesman Jeff Dickerson said, “Ms. Tyson is unaware of the pension implications of the salary adjustment.”

Really -- that is frighening.

Anonymous said...

"trict spokesman Jeff Dickerson said, “Ms. Tyson is unaware of the pension implications of the salary adjustment.”"


Jeff, you, Cohn & Wolfe, Ramona and Tom Bowen are lying through your teeth on this one. Seriously, have you no shame?

Anonymous said...

"Ms. Tyson is unaware of the pension implications of the salary adjustment.”

If she isn't, then I'm not sure she's fit to be superintendent of a billion dollar enterprise!!


But maybe it makes sense, as when she ran MIS, she wasn't aware of all the pension obligations taxpayers were on the hook for
as she ramped up to a 300 person staff even while paying Dell millions to do the hard work, and with MIS staff like Jamal Edwards nowhere to be found to six months while receiving a paycheck more than most teachers.

Anonymous said...

If she isn't aware, than she needs to be removed immediately, as she is not fit to run the system-something I already feel given the way she ran MIS and the waste there.

Unbelievable that we can't/don't hire smarter people than this. This is why the system stinks.

Anonymous said...

MIS should be outsourced before any janitorial services.

Anonymous said...

On GA Gang this morning Jeff went ballistic to defend Mr Ramsey. He said that Ramsey still worked 40 hours per week at DCSS during the legislative season and also that Ramsey was the one that uncovered the Pope/Reid fiasco single handedly.

Anonymous said...

Jeff Dickerson is so full of @#$% it's unbearable. His credibility is non-existant.

If the DA does its investigation thoroughly, I'm betting that Ron Ramsey is going to be in trouble when all the details of the indictment come to fore.

And I guarantee that Lewis and Pope, when they get on the stand, will sell out Ramsey in a heartbeat.

They will of course testify that Ramsey was well aware of all of their decisions, and never uttered a peep of concern.

Where the heck was Ramsey when Lewis was out of the country on DCSS p-card with a certain female uper level administrator still employed but not his wife?

Where the heck was Ramsey was Lewis purchased a DCSS vehicle at a fraction of its value? And where was Ramsey during Gasgate?

Where was Ramsey during the constant hiring of BOE family members despite there lack of qualifications?

Where was ramsey during the promotion of staff because of their fraternity/sorority/New Birth connections?

Where was Ramsey during the Yvonne Butler/Ralph Simpson Bookgate? Which of course only came to public attention because of this blog. And somehow, Ralph Simpson is still gosh darn it employed by DCSS making a healthy six figure salary.

I CAN NOT WAIT until a new superintendent is hired and shows Ransey the door. According to his state senate bio, his current occupation is "attorney", so he has that to fall back on. That and the multiple businesses he owns.

Anonymous said...

The saddest part about Ron Ramsey being paid twice by DeKalb taxpayers for two positions he doesn't do well at, is that as Internal Affairs head, he goes hard after teachers who don't tow the company line. He picks on those who he knows have no one backing them up.

But Central Office administrators can do pretty much whatever the heck they want to, without any reproach from Ronnie Ramsey and Robert Tucker.

Anonymous said...

"He said that Ramsey still worked 40 hours per week at DCSS during the legislative season and also that Ramsey was the one that uncovered the Pope/Reid fiasco single handedly."

Hey Jeff Dickerson, you miserable excuse of a media consultant posing as a legitimate journalist: The only reason why DA Gwen Keyes found about about Pat Pope's dealings was that Crawford Lewis sold her out when he was being questioned by the DA about his vehicle and gas purchases.

So before you go on television without disclosing who's paying your unearned fat check, at least know what the blank you're talking about.

It's been well documented that Lewis notified the DA about Pat Pope. Your fellow incompetent Ron Ramsey was nowhere to be found.

Anonymous said...

It is so true how Ronald Ramsey mistreat teachers who donot tow the line. He believes area directors and principals without really looking at the facts. So, once you enter his office, Internal Affairs, his mind is made up and you are guilty.
It is sad to know that he could not find out any wrong doings of several administrators at the county level until the AJC or channel 2 aired the problems. Personally, I think Dekalb County should have paid Richard Belcher and other news anchors who uncovered the truth about Lewis and the book sellers and others in top notch office positions in the district. So, what it boils down to is; what and why are we paying Ronald Ramsey to do? The next big scandal that will be exposed should go to the news persons who investigated the problem and not pay Ramsey one dime.
Ms. Sanders Butler is bragging about how she is still getting paid her full salary and is of course, suing Dekalb County School System because they didnot fire her buddies in crime, Ralph Simpson and Carol Bedford.
Please tell the taxpayers that this woman is not still being paid the our school district.Her internet page is full of speaking engagements and etc. She has stolen enough money to retire and continue fooling people about her fake sugar free plan.
Please let us know if she is still on payroll.

Anonymous said...

Re MIS should be outsourced before any janitorial services ...
I thought they already were with Dell support. When Dell outsourcing came about, was MIS downsized justify the outlay of additional money?

Anonymous said...

MIS did not shave jobs when they signed the contract with Dell. A matter of fact, I think MIS increased in size by several positions after that contract was signed.

I honestly think this whole bunch is crooked and they know the gig is up. They are only extending the inevitable as long as they can so they can all cash in with OUR tax dollars.

HEADS NEED TO START ROLLING NOW! Come on Ms. Tyson you are the only person who can stop this senseless waste. Ms. Tyson please start saking for resignations of Clew's leadership. PLEASE!

New Birth, Ramsey, Dickerson the connections have been made and it's time we start firing people. Plus, the $140k that we pay New Birth needs to be discontinued immediately until all cases are settled. ENOUGH!

Our kids are getting screwed by this inept bunch of crooks at the Palace!~

Anonymous said...

"When Dell outsourcing came about, was MIS downsized justify the outlay of additional money? "

Why would you think this? Didn't you know that Prosys was the vendor that sold HP computers to DCSS for 5 years prior to the contract going to Dell via an RFP? Prosys installed and maintained all HP computers for DCSS prior to Dell. The warranty ran for five years for Prosys, the installation and maintenance was built into the upfront cost just like Dell. An RFP at the end of the warranty period awarded the contract to Dell. This is in the BOE meeting attachments and minutes.

BOE meeting 10-1-07:
It is recommended that the Board of Education award RFP 8-10 Workstations, Laptops, & Services to Dell Computers as the lowest responsible, responsive bid. Unit costs are as follows:

Basic workstation: $734.96
Laptop: $891.25

Under the Capital Improvements Plan, MIS estimates the procurement of approximately 10,000 – 12,000 computers which yields a projected total of $10,000,000.00 over a five year period. All purchases will be made in accordance with Board Policy and purchases $50,000.00 or higher will require BOE approval.

The purpose of this recommendation is to provide workstations, laptops, and associated services for technology initiatives for instructional and administrative programs under the Capital Improvement Program 2007-2012.

RFP 8-10 is a five-year award with a required annual renewal by the Board of Education. Services which are included in the price include warehousing, imaging, delivery, installation, configuration, and on-site warranty. The vendor will also provide the lockdown device and the disposal of packaging materials from school property as a part of the price. Schools and departments will be able to purchase from the bid using local, federal, and grant funds.

Anonymous said...

Most of these Dell computers were replacement for the HP computers. The HP computers were out of warranty so they needed a new contract with a vendor that would install and maintain all of the technology equipment for DCSS.

I guess you could say MIS already subcontracts out tens of millions of dollars of work between the computers, servers, and interactive boards.

The 200+ people in MIS mainly work with the network including CTSSs. The network people "push" everything out over the private fiber optics network. Most are housed in the Bryant Center while the CTSS who are also network certified act as trouble shooters mainly for the network.

Anonymous said...

MIS needs to be trimmed and many functions need to e considered for outsourcing. This 200+ department costs close to $20,000,000 in salary and benefits. Add to this the fact that they do not install, maintain or house the computers, servers or activboards and there are millions more in labor cost. They gave us eSis and Schoolnet ($11,000,000) which still gives no data analysis to teachers at a time when the state and federal government is asking for tracking data and data analysis delivered to teachers on a timely basis.

DCSS has 2 computers per classroom of 30+ students and so few technology labs for content area and grade level teachers (the very ones charged with responsibility for making AYP) that integrating technology into classroom lessons is for all intents and purposes non-existent. We have 1,500 interactive boards for 6,500 teachers. And the decision for who got the interactive boards was made in many instances not by the content area or grade level teachers, but by Central Office personnel.

Ask any teacher about the access to technology they can use to integrate technology into their lessons or use technology for students to take benchmarks so they don't have to manually "scan" in bubbled pencil and paper test sheets. Is it easy to integrate technology into your instruction in DCSS? Is the equipment and software operational? How do they feel about eSis? Can you depend on the technology to be operational when you take your students to the lab? Is your Activboard (if you have one) adequately maintained? Has this group (under Ms. Tyson and Mr. Hunter) made technology seamless to use in your classroom?

This department is long overdue for an audit. An independent audit should include a survey from the content area and grade level teachers as to technology access and service level?

Go into any DCSS classroom and you will see that most are in the 20th Century, not the 21st Century. Indeed, parents in affluent schools have been the ones that installed enough technology for students to us.

DCSS students deserve abundant access to cutting edge technology. As usual, most of the money is going to personnel salary and benefits and little is going to access for students.

Anonymous said...

"This department is long overdue for an audit. An independent audit should include a survey from the content area and grade level teachers as to technology access and service level?
Go into any DCSS classroom and you will see that most are in the 20th Century, not the 21st Century. Indeed, parents in affluent schools have been the ones that installed enough technology for students to us.
DCSS students deserve abundant access to cutting edge technology. As usual, most of the money is going to personnel salary and benefits and little is going to access for students."


Great comments! I tell you this: The school systems of Fulton, Decatur, Gwinnett and Cobb all have much better use of technology in their classrooms. We are so far behind when it comes to integrating tech into the classroom, despite the fact we pay tens of millions for MIS.

Students, whether in elem., middle or high schools so want to use technology in the classroom. They learn differntly than we did when we grew up.

We owe it to them to have an outside audit of MIS and have it re-focus on the classroom, not as an admin. and management jobs program.

Anonymous said...

So let me get this right. Tyson oversees DCSS MIS for years. DCSS MIS is seriously behind in Technology in comparison with other Metro School Districts and now we want to give Tyson a raise which in turns will bump her pension to a million bucks, IF she stays with the system 8 more years.

Seems to me Tyson should be shown the door, once the new leadership arrives.

Why hasn't Tyson shown ANYONE the door that was previously a part of the CLew leadership? Geez, how bad must one screw up at DCSS to lose their job?

I have lost trust in the entire staff, it's time for the BOE to ask Tyson to start setting up the inevitable, as the new leadership is chosen and brought in. If we do not get rid of the current leadership before the new Super arrives, that person is doomed adn we'll be bright back in this situation 3 years from now.

CAN WE PLEASE SEE SOME CHANGE AT DCSS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE? MAYBE THE STATE NEEDS TO GET INVOLVED. WHAT A CORRUPT BUNCH WE HAVE RUNNING OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

Anonymous said...

“Ms. Tyson is unaware of the pension implications of the salary adjustment.”....

So, if she is still unaware (note Dickerson's use of the present tense) does that mean we are keeping this fact a secret from her?

This may be the biggest whopper since the gas-siphoning tale.