Batavia school treasurer's pay unusual

Info officer gets extra $2,000 a month

BATAVIA -- Don't call it a raise.

The contract for Anton Inglese, chief information officer for the Batavia School District, calls for him to make $96,262, and that was all, until May, when the School Board appointed him treasurer. He now picks up another $2,000 a month in that role.

"There's been no change in anybody's pay," Superintendent Jack Barshinger said, although both he and Inglese acknowledge Inglese makes more money now than he did a year ago.

As the district cuts spending in areas like art supplies, library books and sports budgets to balance its 2009-10 budget, the district is the far-and-away leader in pay for board treasurers among districts surveyed by The Beacon-News. Only one of five school districts contacted by the paper said the treasurer is compensated, and that was only $100 a month to a volunteer.

The issue in Batavia came to light because, for the first time, the treasurer's salary is specifically noted in the budget proposal set for vote tonight. Barshinger defends the pay as something that has always been in the budget. However, he was unable to say how much the previous treasurer -- former assistant superintendent for finance Steve Caliendo -- received, because it was included in Caliendo's salary.

"You're looking for something that doesn't exist," Barshinger said. "We've added a line item. There's always been money for treasurer."

Listing the salary in the budget was an attempt to enhance transparency of district spending, Barshinger said. The superintendent went on to say he "could have put 10 or 15 (thousand) there." After suggesting the effort to be up front about the salary was not appreciated, Barshinger said he should "just zero that out" as an alternative to explain the figure.

For his part, Caliendo doesn't know how much he earned as treasurer between 2006 and his departure on June 30, or how it was determined. Caliendo made a little more than $146,000 when he left and said treasurer was one of the many hats he wore that included overseeing finance, transportation, construction and other programs.

In May and June, the district apparently paid both men for the job. Barshinger said Inglese earned $2,000 in each of those months, while Caliendo saw no decrease.

As treasurer, Caliendo shared financial duties with a director of finance. Inglese and assistant superintendant for finance Kris Monn, making $135,000, now combine to oversee Batavia's money in what Inglese said is a system "designed to be a check and balance."

Barshinger and School Board President Ron Link asked Inglese if he was interested in the treasurer's position, Inglese explained. His background in money matters came from what he learned while installing the district's new financial software.

"I knew the nitty-gritty of the district's finances," Inglese said, adding he's currently enrolled in master's of business administration-type classes designed for school administrators.

For $2,000 a month, Inglese estimates he spends five to 10 hours a week on treasurer duties, including School Board meetings. Barshinger said the pay was based, in part, on the time the work requires.

Inglese -- whose contract was renewed on June 23 -- suggests his situation is not unique, but a survey of area districts finds Batavia stands alone in terms of pay scale.

Kaneland's School Board appoints a treasurer, currently associate superintendent for finance Julie Ann Fuchs. Treasurer is within her job description and involves no extra pay, Superintendent Charles McCormick said.

In Geneva and St. Charles, the districts' assistant superintendents for business services -- Donna Oberg and Brad Cauffman, respectively -- were selected treasurer by their boards. Neither has treasurer in their job description, because the board can nominate anyone, and neither is paid anything additional, according to the districts.

In the West Aurora School District, treasurer George Malina is a volunteer appointed by the board who gets $1,200 a year.

Barshinger thinks ill-will toward Inglese is the reason for questions about the treasurer's salary. Inglese doesn't know why he's drawn so much attention.

Earlier this year, Inglese bought a home on Bernadette Lane constructed by Batavia High School's building trades program. The district hoped to make $425,000 on the sale, but Inglese paid $259,000 through a sealed bid process in which he initially finished second. The high bidder's offer fell through, district officials said, clearing the way for Inglese.