Question: I want to know why the Director of Special Programs for the Coos Bay School District received a $10,000 raise this year, while the district is cutting days for the special education assistants?

Answer: This answer is simply to keep qualified personnel from leaving the district to take higher paying jobs elsewhere.

Superintendent Bob De La Vergne said it was a no-brainer to give a $10,000 raise to the district’s director of special programs, Lisa DeSalvio, given how much less Coos Bay was paying the position compared to other similar-sized schools.

Last year, the position paid $72,000, while similar-sized districts were paying between $80,000 and $90,000 in Klamath Falls, Junction City, Central, Ontario, Sweet Home and La Grande.

“We have to make jobs competitive or we aren’t going to keep our employees,” he said.

De La Vergne noted that every full-time employee in the district saw a raise.

He said the special educational assistant matter is a completely different issue. Aides work based on the demand from the district’s schools. If there aren’t any students who need assistance, then a school’s principal won’t request an aide to work.

“It’s based on the need for work,” he said.

(I Want to Know is a regular feature of The World, offering readers a chance to anonymously ask questions and have reporters pursue answers. Those interested can send questions to The World by sending e-mail to news@theworld link.com.)