(September 10) On a split vote, the board members of the Chino Valley Unified School District moved to up the stipend they are provided for their service.
Board members Irene Hernandez-Blair, Charles Dickie and Sylvia Orozco voted to increase their compensation by five percent, elevating from $747 to  $784 each board member’s monthly pay.
Trustees James Na and Andrew Cruz voted against the raise.
The salary increase, which went into effect on September 5, will add $2,050 to the district’s annual $52 million budget.
Taking the raise was a symbolic show of confidence in the future, following more than half a decade of dwindling revenue to the district in the face of the stagnating economy that has beset the nation, state and region since 2007.  Because deficits of $8.1 million were projected for the current 2014-15 academic year and a $9 million deficit in 2015-16, the board was earlier reluctant to up its own compensation.
The raise means that members will get roughly $470 per meeting. The board met 27 times in 2012 and 27 times in 2013. In 2014 it has 20 meetings scheduled. Meetings typically last three hours, meaning the board members get about $157 per hour if meeting time alone is calculated.
Board members are provided with staff reports relating to the materials contained in the meeting agenda, which they are expected to review prior to the meetings. There is no set amount of time required of them to do such reviews.
The move came at the same time that the board approved a raise for district superintendent Wayne Joseph. The board agreed to increase Joseph’s contract, which had been providing him with an annual $195,575 salary,  to reflect a 3 percent salary increase for 2013-14, retroactive to July 1, 2013; a 2 percent salary increase for 2014-15. The board also agreed to provide Josephs with a 10 percent increase in the district’s contribution towards his benefits, which are provided in addition to his salary, for this school year.