Vacation schedule eyed for principals

The Canyons School District is proposing a vacation-time schedule for its principals, while Jordan School District officials contend their way is optimal because it saves money.

The Canyons School Board plans to vote on the contract schedule, as well as an administrative salary schedule, plus priorities and goals regarding employees, at its meeting Tuesday. The board discussed those issues during its meeting earlier this week.

East-side residents voted in 2007 to leave Jordan District and form their own district. The split becomes official in July. The east side is now called Canyons District.

Jordan District has its principals on an 11-month contract. They receive no official vacation days but have July off.

The Canyons is proposing a 12-month schedule with 20 vacation days.

Canyons Superintendent Dave Doty points out while Jordan District principals are supposed to take July off, many typically end up working anyway on things such as budgets or interviewing prospective teachers. The principals should be able to choose when their vacations are and take the time off, he said.

"We feel it (the Canyons proposal) would be sending a very positive message to our hard-working principals," Doty said. "We acknowledge they work long hours 12 months of the year."

Jordan spokeswoman Melinda Colton, however, said her district's method saves money. If an employee quits, a district has to pay out their vacation days. "It becomes a cost issue for us," she said.

Further, Colton said that July is the best time for school bosses to be out. "We feel it's imperative to have principals in the schools when students are there," she said.

Colton admits some employees choose to not take days off in the designated month of July but added, "We really want them to take the time off to rejuvenate themselves."

Doty said he never claimed the Canyons' proposed work schedule would save the district money.

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