$100K in pay raises for top MPS administrators draw concern: "Nobody knew. It was backdoor"

MILWAUKEE -- Pay raises at Milwaukee Public Schools aren't making the grade with some teachers. A school board member is questioning a $100,000 worth of raises to top MPS administrators.

Reports indicate one administrator got a raise of more than $17,000. The teacher's union says, that's too much.

"I think we are all deeply disappointed," said Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association President Kim Schroeder.

In a school district hit hard with budget issues, a new report claims 23 top MPS administrators received a collective $100,000 in raises. The largest single increase went to one employee, now making $17,600 more.

"Which is also more than some of our members make in a whole year working with students in the classroom," said Schroeder. "Nobody knew. It was backdoor."

Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association President Kim Schroeder, believes the raises were intentionally kept quiet.

"We have asked about raises for our members and we are continually told, 'no money, no money, no money,'" said Schroeder.

Board member, Terry Falk, says the report came to light after a whistle-blower pointed out the changes. He says MPS Superintendent Darienne Driver, has the authority to approve raises under ten percent without board approval, as long as the employee is being reclassified.

"The number of reclassifications raises an alarm indicating they used reclassification to give raises without the board's approval," Falk said.

The guidelines are even confusing the union:

"The budget isn't necessarily user-friendly to read," said Schroeder.

FOX6's Bret Lemoine: "Are they correct in saying that they can give raises under ten percent?"

Schroeder: "I don't know. We will have to look at school board policy."

MPS released a statement, explaining their transparency:

Meanwhile, Schroeder says his teachers are upset.

"I think that anybody in this district getting a $17,000 raise for the year, is getting too much of a raise," said Schroeder.

The union says teachers in the district only received a raise of $143.00. He says that doesn't even cover cost of living, and most of that money is spent by teachers on items needed for the classroom.