Doyle gets raise

MAT-SU -- The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School Board has renewed chief school administrator Bob Doyle's contract and has included a merit increase in pay due to work Doyle and his administration have done. Doyle, whose salary is $108,000 a year, will receive a merit increase of $3,000 a year, which kicks into effect July 1, 2004.

"I feel pretty good," Doyle said. "This is the first time we've had a merit pay program; we worked specifically on the board goals and showed progress to the board -- the board has felt pretty good about that."

Doyle, whose contract was scheduled to end June 30, 2004, now has a contract extending through June 2006. Doyle is the fifth chief administrator since 1999, and said he is pleased the board has elected to keep him on staff.

"We still have a lot of work to do … the key is maintaining and focusing on what we are already doing," he said.

Doyle's two main goals are to continue working on improving student learning and improving curriculum alignment.

In a press release, the board expressed its appreciation to Doyle: "The Mat-Su School District Board has evaluated the chief school administrator and found him to be above average in all points evaluated and is renewing a two-year contract with Robert Doyle with merit adjustments reflecting our appreciation for a job well done."

Doyle first started working as the interim superintendent in July 2002; he became the contracted chief school administrator in February.