Delaware Tech asks for more money to pay educators
Delaware Technical Community College’s request for more money to pay its professors got some pushback Feb. 2 during a Joint Finance Committee meeting.
Mark Brainard, president of Delaware Tech, presented his budget request to the committee noting that Gov. John Carney’s recent plan to increase public school teacher salaries by 9% could have an adverse effect on his teaching ranks.
“Like every state agency, we’re struggling to fill vacancies. It’s a very competitive market out there. We’re hoping to get your support for that,” Brainard said.
Salaries for Delaware Tech faculty are projected to be $31.9 million for 2023, and the fiscal year 2024 funding request is for $932,000 more for salaries, said Christine Gillan, vice president for strategic communications and marketing. The increase is 2% above the statewide salary policy for all state employees in order to maintain competitiveness with K-12 public school teachers, Gillan said. “When combined with the governor’s pay increase proposal, faculty are projected to receive at least 5% increase over the current year,” she said.
Officials said the average salary for Delaware Tech educators is between $50,000 and $60,000, but Sen. Dave Lawson, R-Marydel, took issue with the top eight salaries in Brainard’s administration.
Not including Brainard’s $274,000 salary, those positions add up to $1.2 million, Lawson said.
“Is that justifiable?” he asked. “The top seems awfully heavy.”
Brainard shot back by saying, “That’s your call whether it’s justifiable.”
“I would stack the work of the eight senior vice presidents in my office against any vice president in higher education or the K-12 system,” he said.
Lawson then pointed out that last April the Delaware Tech board essentially gave Brainard a 25% pay raise, which will bump his salary to more than $350,000. The president position also comes with perks such as a vehicle.
Lawson asked the presidents of University of Delaware and Delaware State University the same salary questions and both men said they would get back to him with the information.
“I don’t know that we’re spending the money properly here. I’m concerned, and we have to answer to the taxpayers,” Lawson said. “Right now, there are folks upset about this top-heavy pay at a community college. I just don’t understand it, and these are questions I’m being asked.”
