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Macomb, IL – The Spoon River College Board of Trustees approved a new contract for President Robert Ritschel. He will not receive a pay raise.
Ritschel, whose salary is $144,000, said he agreed to forgo a raise for next school year because funding is tight due to a lack of support from the state.
"I think part of leadership is leading by example," said Ritschel. "I didn't think it would be appropriate for me to ask others to make a sacrifice if I wasn't willing to do so on my own. That's why I thought this was a necessary thing to do and I was very willing to do it."
Board Chairperson Linda Butler praised Ritschel's leadership during a difficult time for the state.
"I think he's doing a good job with all of the difficulties that we're facing right now," said Butler. "It's not easy."
Board member Dave Maguire also praised Ritschel.
"We've done three buildings since he's come on board," said Maguire. "Enrollment has done well. We have a very good team put together who are running the institution."
The new contract was unanimously approved by the board during its May meeting.
The pact also reduces the number of organizations SRC will pay Ritschel to participate in from four to two and reduces the number of professional conferences he attends from three to two.
The agreement also adds one year to his contract with SRC. It now expires in the summer of 2013.
Ritschel became SRC's president in August 2005.
Workers Scale Back Pay Raise
Non-exempt clerical workers at SRC also made a wage concession. They were scheduled to receive a raise of 4.25% next school year, which is the final year of their contract. But they voted to reduce the size of the raise to 3%.
The pact covers 35 members of the SRC Classified Personnel Association.
Board of Trustees members praised the workers for making the sacrifice in order to help the college. Board members unanimously approved the change.