Koeppen given positive performance evaluation, 6% bonus

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The closed session portion of the Feb. 8 Vallecitos School District board meeting included a performance evaluation of Maritza Koeppen, who is the Vallecitos School District superintendent and Vallecitos Elementary School principal, and resulted in Koeppen being given a positive performance evaluation and a 6% bonus.

“I am always continuing to work hard on behalf of students. I’m never satisfied with the status quo and always want to continue to improve,” Koeppen said.

Koeppen had been an administrator with the San Marcos Unified School District before becoming the Vallecitos School District superintendent and Vallecitos Elementary School principal in January 2018. David Jones was the district superintendent and school principal from 2011 until August 2017, when he was hired as the superintendent of the Bonsall Unified School District. Gary Wilson was the interim superintendent and principal with the district until Koeppen was hired and took the position.

When Koeppen was hired she was given an 18-month contract. In August 2019, the school board approved a three-year contract for Koeppen with an annual salary of $144,084. The contract was retroactive to July 1, 2019, and is effective through June 30, 2022.

The performance evaluation did not include extending Koeppen’s contract although, with the positive performance review, a new contract is expected to occur. “We had some discussion and we’re going to start the negotiation process soon,” Koeppen said.

The salary increase in Koeppen’s 2019 contract reflected that given to other school district employees. Teachers and classified employees had been given a 3% raise retroactive to July 1, 2018, and a 1% raise effective July 1, 2019. Koeppen received a 2.61% raise with her 2019 contract. That contract allowed Koeppen to receive a cost of living adjustment increase provided to other management personnel if approved by the board.

On Dec. 17, the Vallecitos board approved a collective bargaining agreement with the Vallecitos Educators Association which included a salary increase of 3% retroactive to July 1, 2021, with potential additional increases based on retirements. (The pay for Vallecitos Elementary School teachers has a step and column formula basing pay on experience and educational units, and if teachers retire they would be replaced by a newer teacher at a lower pay scale. That savings was used for additional pay increases for the remaining Vallecitos teachers.)

The salaries were increased by an additional 1% for each certificated teacher submitting a notice of retirement effective June 30, 2022, up to a maximum total 6% increase. Vallecitos teachers Kathi Bollinger, Sarah Kirk, and Carol Watson submitted retirement notices, so the Vallecitos teachers will have a 6% salary increase.

The school board chose to match that 6% increase for Kopppen’s bonus. “The board decided to give me a 6% one-time bonus for the 2021-22 school year,” Koeppen said.

Koeppen considers the positive evaluation more pleasing than the bonus. “I love the kids in the community,” she said.

“She’s very genuine about her commitment,” said Vallecitos School District Business Manager Linda Miller.