In a highly

unusual move, Superintendent of Education Richard Brooks responded this

week to the school system's hiring of a full-time public information officer.

Last week,

the system announced it was hiring current Times Herald business editor

Dean Jackson for the position at an annual salary of $70,000.

Since the hiring

was announced, residents have questioned the system's paying so much for

the position after the board just passed a budget that will increase property

taxes.

"Normally,

I have made it a practice not to respond to articles in the newspapers,

and in particular when employee salaries are concerned. In this case,

I am going to make an exception for the benefit of system employees and

citizens that have expressed concern," Brooks said.

He said the

salary for the position was calculated on the salary level of a teacher

who has six years experience. The system is "crediting" Jackson's

tenure with the newspaper when figuring the salary.

The base pay

for a teacher with six years experience is $37,764. But since Jackson

will be working a 230-day calendar instead of 190 days, he receives a

little over $12,000 for the added days for a gross take home salary of

$53,547.

Included in

the $70,000 figure is a benefits package of $16,064, which is the same

for all system employees. The package includes FICA, teacher retirement,

health insurance, dental insurance and life insurance.

Brooks said

the format is the same for calculating teachers' salaries in the school

system.