Cumberland County Schools superintendent’s cabinet receives up to 15% raises

Some members of Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly’s cabinet will be receiving raises of up to 15% after the school board approved a bevy of pay increases for the eight-person group at his request.

According to records provided by the school system, the board approved salaries of $187,616.46 for Associate Superintendent of Business Operations Jay Toland and Board Attorney Nickolas Sojka and $170,000 for associate superintendents Ruben Reyes, Mellotta Hill, Lindsay Whitley, Jane Fields, Melody Chalmers-McClain and Kevin Coleman.

In a Jan. 4 memorandum to the board, Conelly wrote that he was asking for the adjustments “to align with Market Conditions and to promote retention in key district-level positions.” 

School system records showed the following:

• Toland did not receive a raise, having made $187,616.46 in 2023.
• Sojka got a $4,254.06 (or 12%) raise, having made $183,362.40 in 2023.
• Reyes got an $8,121.92 (or 5%) raise, having made $161,878.08 in 2023.
• Hill got a $17,120 (11%) raise, having made $152,880 in 2023.
• Whitley got a $19,903.04 (13%) raise, having made $150,096.96 in 2023.
• Fields, Chalmers-McClain and Coleman each got $22,424 (15%) raises, having made $147,576 each in 2023.

The board discussed the pay increases during a 20-minute closed session at Thursday’s meeting. The proposal passed 5-3, with board members Carrie Sutton and Judy Musgrave and Chairwoman Deanna Jones voting in opposition. Board member Susan Williams was not present at Thursday’s meeting.

Cumberland County Schools spokesperson Lindsay Whitley said Friday that the pay increases will take effect when cabinet members are paid at the end of the month.

Reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at lsolomon@cityviewnc.com or 910-423-6500.

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