Pastorek creates 14 unclassified posts
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Fourteen unclassified jobs have sprung up under state Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek, including five paid at least $100,000 per year, officials said Thursday.
The figures are included in a letter from Pastorek to Linda Johnson, of Plaquemine, a member of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Johnson, who recently finished her term as president of the board, formally requested the salary information Oct. 28 because she said she and other panel members are concerned about high salaries in the state Department of Education.
Johnson asked for a response by the close of business Nov. 17. E-mail responses were sent out Thursday to board members.
Johnson said Thursday evening that she has not read Pastorek’s response.
The superintendent has held his post for 18 months.
Unclassified jobs are considered at-will positions. Those employees serve at Pastorek’s pleasure and can be fired without the protection that civil service jobs offer. The letter says those in relatively new unclassified jobs paid at least $100,000 per year are:
Johnson has said Trahan’s hiring, which caught board members by surprise, triggered her letter seeking a wide range of department salary information. She said other board members backed her request.
Another five unclassified jobs are in charge of processing Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement request. Each job-holder is paid $52,000 per year.
Pastorek said in his letter that three of the 14 unclassified jobs are permanent and were authorized by the Legislature last year. He said he used his authority to create 11 more listed as temporary unclassified positions. The superintendent said the department needs to be a lean organization.
“However, I also believe that when you as a board ask me to pursue the major new initiatives that you have outlined for me I must have the autonomy and flexibility to organize and use the human capital resources and tools given me to best staff these efforts,” he said.
The department has about 600 employees, most of whom are covered by civil service.
The figures are included in a letter from Pastorek to Linda Johnson, of Plaquemine, a member of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Johnson, who recently finished her term as president of the board, formally requested the salary information Oct. 28 because she said she and other panel members are concerned about high salaries in the state Department of Education.
Johnson asked for a response by the close of business Nov. 17. E-mail responses were sent out Thursday to board members.
Johnson said Thursday evening that she has not read Pastorek’s response.
The superintendent has held his post for 18 months.
Unclassified jobs are considered at-will positions. Those employees serve at Pastorek’s pleasure and can be fired without the protection that civil service jobs offer. The letter says those in relatively new unclassified jobs paid at least $100,000 per year are:
- Kerry Laster, executive director of literacy and numeracy, $125,000 per year.
- Kathy Mouton, executive director of high-school redesign, $100,000 per year.
- Jim Owens, who heads career and technical education, $100,000.
- Rodney Watson, who leads federal school improvement and special education programs, $125,000 per year.
- Don Trahan, director of external affairs and regional service centers, $110,000 per year.
Johnson has said Trahan’s hiring, which caught board members by surprise, triggered her letter seeking a wide range of department salary information. She said other board members backed her request.
Another five unclassified jobs are in charge of processing Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement request. Each job-holder is paid $52,000 per year.
Pastorek said in his letter that three of the 14 unclassified jobs are permanent and were authorized by the Legislature last year. He said he used his authority to create 11 more listed as temporary unclassified positions. The superintendent said the department needs to be a lean organization.
“However, I also believe that when you as a board ask me to pursue the major new initiatives that you have outlined for me I must have the autonomy and flexibility to organize and use the human capital resources and tools given me to best staff these efforts,” he said.
The department has about 600 employees, most of whom are covered by civil service.
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