York school board officials enjoying the ‘sunshine’ as top wage-earners

April 10, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Mark Pavilons
From teachers to administrators, employees of the two massive school boards serving York Region have their fair share of highly paid civil servants.
Almost 9,000 civil servants joined the provincial “Sunshine list” – public sector employees earning $100,000 or more – in 2012, swelling the ranks to 88,412.
The York District School Board receives full marks for having the second-highest-paid employee in the region. Ken Thurston, director of education, pulled in $313,961.39, including $12,544.68 in benefits.
He was second only to York Regional Police Deputy Chief Bruce Herridge, who earned a whopping $336,386.33. By comparison, this is more than the salary paid to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Kathleen Wynne.
Two associate directors of the board – Denese Belchetz and Christopher Tulley – both earned $219,048.36, along with $6,422.04 in benefits.
Bruce Richardson, associate director of business services, made $207,076.09 and $5,522.59 in benefits.
Board superintendents still rake in the dough, but hot on their heels, and outnumbering them substantially, are teachers, and virtually every vice-principal and principal at the board.
The board’s top super in 2012 was Sharon List, who earned a sizeable $183,540.80.
Both Karen Friedman and Margaret Roberts pulled in $165,207.43.
They were followed by Cecil Roach ($164,782.14) and Gayle Brocklebank-Vincent ($162,091.75).
Next were Jegan-Philip Parappally and Scott Yake, who both made $161,182.34.
The other supers on the list included Dianne Hawkins, $159,165.88; Christos Sarellas, $151,112.14; Katherine Witherow, $148,296.59; Jacqueline Young, $146,857.57 and Daniel Wu, $133,033.69.

York Catholic
Disrtrict School Board

The York Catholic District School Board seems equally generous to its employees.
Director of Education Susan Larosa was paid $229,910.03, including $13,895.33 in taxable benefits.
John Sabo, associate director of leading services and board treasurer, earned $209,359.18 and $8,456.35 in benefits.
Associate Director Patricia Preston made $195,605.77 and $8,524.92 in benefits.
Normand Vezina, senior manager of environmental and office services, was paid $186,120.31.
Anna Chan, senior manager of business services and assistant treasurer, made $152,740.08.
The separate board had a litany of well paid superintendents.
Earning $166,119.25 were Debra Cormier, Mary Cosentino, Bryson Eldridge, Robert Lostracco and Diane Murgaski.
Some other top-paid superintendents were Lynda Coulter, $163,366.68; Michael Nasello, $161,770.01; Maria Battista, $159,920.55; Opiyo Oloya, $159,920.55; Tina D’Acunto, $158,578.48; Mary Deveaux, $151,557.18 and Thomas McLoughlin, $151,546.14.
Noteworthy were principals Victoria Augustynek ($148,880.12) and Beverly Coles ($146,080.12).
Overall, the total number of employees disclosed under the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act increased by 11% or 8,823 employees from 79,589 in 2011 to 88,412 in 2012, which is consistent with the increase experienced in 2011.
The Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act requires public sector organizations to disclose, by March 31, the name, position, salary and taxable benefits of their employees paid $100,000 or more in the previous calendar year.
For a full list, visit http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/publications/salarydisclosure/pssd/orgs.php?pageNum_pssd=19&organization=municipalities.