By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

Kathleen Klink

LIBERTY TWP. - Lakota Schools superintendent Kathleen Klink will get a $3,000 bonus for meeting goals developed jointly between her and the board of education.

That's nearly 3 percent of her $102,500 salary for the current year, which began Aug. 1. Under her contract, Klink was eligible for a bonus of up to $4,000.

But it's neither the highest bonus nor greatest percent of salary among the 54 administrators who received bonuses since August. Fourteen administrators did not receive any bonus, including four who were hired this past summer.

"This gives us the ability to reward people who go above and beyond and people we want to keep in our organization," said Joan Powell, president of the Lakota Board of Education.

West Chester resident Robert Osborne doesn't believe bonuses should be given now, especially when the board plans to ask voters to approve a money issue next spring.

"I don't agree with the money they're making - not when they're cutting programs. The people do not want that,'' said Osborne, whose children graduated from Lakota. "I've always supported the schools - until the last few years."

This marks the first year that administrators other than Klink and treasurer Alan Hutchinson earned bonuses.

Six administrators received bonuses that were just under 1 percent of their salary for the current year, six received in the 3-4 percent range and two received 5 percent or greater.

That's in addition to a 3.5 percent cost of living adjustment.

Teachers and support staff are not eligible for bonuses.

Hutchinson said the $84,859 the district will pay in bonuses is less than 0.1 percent of the $112 million general fund.

E-mail suek@infionline.net