District fulfills records request

GLENDALE — After about seven months of back-and-forth, delay and miscommunication, Glendale resident Brian Ellis received a public records request for Glendale Unified School District employees earning more than $100,000.

District officials cited more pressing requests and a short staff as reasons for the delay.

“I apologize, bottom line,” Supt. Michael Escalante said. “Not everybody always understands the priorities and the workloads we have to work under.”

Escalante acknowledged that of the 164 employees who make more than $100,000, he makes the most, a roughly $297,000 salary, including 20 reimbursed vacation days the last two years. The titles of those making six-figure incomes include: deputy and assistant superintendents, principals, associate principals and teachers, who make up about half of the list. About 140 employees earn between $100,000 and $120,000. The district employs about 2,800 people.

“I am a little amazed there are that many earning that much, to be honest,” Ellis said. “Ultimately, you hope the resources are going into the classroom.”

Ellis’ wife, Pam Ellis, served 12 years on the school board and did not seek reelection in 2007. She co-signed the 2004 contract that finalized Escalante’s hire.

Both denied there were ulterior motives to Brian Ellis’ inquiry.

Salaries for Glendale Unified are comparable to districts of similar size, according to a 2009 salary survey by the Los Angeles County Department of Education.

Brian Ellis made his public-records request verbally in June. On Oct. 5, he made the request in writing. Public agencies have 10 business days under California law to respond to such requests, but may extend their response time by another 14 days if needed.

“Over the course of the last six months, the people who have answered the phone have all been very pleasant, but have said it’s on someone else’s desk or it’s in the process,” he said.

Brian Ellis’ hunt began at a summertime homeowners association meeting with school board Vice President Greg Krikorian.

Weeks went by until district officials provided 2006-07 salary figures that did not wholly satisfy Ellis’ request.

Legal experts said the district may have run afoul of public records laws in its prolonged delay, but cautioned that wiggle room exists if agencies can legally demonstrate a prolonged but good-faith effort in meeting the request.

Brian Ellis had given district officials a Dec. 1 deadline and was prepared to bring legal action, he said.