LOOKING IN ON: HIGHER EDUCATION:

At CSN, two in seemingly similar jobs draw 6 figures

One replaced official on leave; he’s back, but she’s staying, too

Mon, Aug 25, 2008 (2 a.m.)

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Nevada System of Higher Education

The College of Southern Nevada has an associate vice president for facilities management whose annual salary is $147,204 and an acting associate vice president for facilities management who is paid $131,254 a year.

Taxpayers might wonder why, at a time of severe budget reductions, the college has two people with such similar titles drawing six-figure pay.

Here’s how it happened:

Bob Gilbert, the associate vice president, went on paid administrative leave last summer after the Sun reported that CSN employees had accused him of directing college projects to subcontractors who worked, in exchange, at a discount on his home.

The state attorney general’s office launched an investigation, and Gilbert went on paid leave for a year.

To fill in for Gilbert, CSN brought on Sherri Payne, an architect, as acting associate vice president. Payne, who was previously making $114,733, got a raise to take on extra duties.

When Gilbert returned to CSN this July, Payne kept her title and the extra money.

Asked why CSN needs these two positions now, when in the past it did not, CSN spokeswoman K.C. Brekken wrote in an e-mail: “Bob brought major strengths to the college through the years in a leadership role as the College built new facilities ... Sherri is more on the operations side ... and is responsible for day-to-day operational activities as well as participating in strategic planning to ensure the cohesiveness with capital master planning, academic and student affairs and master planning.”

In an earlier e-mail, a different CSN spokeswoman said “Payne’s duties and Gilbert’s duties, while independently unique, do overlap and in doing so, serve as a ‘back up’ and check and balance in an operation that encompasses nearly two million square feet and functions 24/7.”

Michael Richards, CSN president, said, via Brekken, the college is still working out Gilbert’s duties and his and Payne’s titles.

Meanwhile, Gilbert remains under scrutiny by the attorney general. Chief Deputy Attorney General Conrad Hafen told the Sun in July he could decide by early August whether to file criminal charges against Gilbert. Hafen said last week he did not have an update except to say he was still reviewing the case.

Gilbert could not be reached for comment.

•••

Last week, CSN announced it had received $8.2 million from the Engelstad Family Foundation that will allow the college to build 10,000 square feet for its cardiorespiratory sciences program. The money will also pay for health sciences scholarships and faculty training.

Ralph Engelstad, who built and owned the Imperial Palace, died in 2002 of lung cancer.

On Aug. 1, MGM Mirage majority shareholder Kirk Kerkorian’s Lincy Foundation gave $5 million to furnish and equip a new clinical skills lab for medical and nursing students, and to support an initiative to better coordinate higher education health sciences programs across the state.

University system Chancellor Jim Rogers said the two recent gifts “are certainly a vote of confidence on the direction and quality ... of the system.”

“Both of them are beginning gifts for what could be long-term investments. The Lincy Foundation has a lot of money. The Engelstad foundation has a lot of money. So this is not somebody that in their last will and testament gave you the last $20 (they) had.”

The Lincy Foundation said it is open to donating more to higher education health sciences programs.

•••

Yes, regents defied Gov. Jim Gibbons’ order to cut each of the university system’s upcoming years’ budgets by 14.12 percent, instead requesting a 10.5 percent increase.

But they are also sending a letter explaining the system will make reductions later, when the state has a better idea of how much needs to be cut.

And Regent Dorothy Gallagher, who had expressed deep reservations about asking for more money, said that message was what made her feel comfortable requesting the nearly $1.9 billion budget.

Without the letter, she said, “In Carson City, they’re going to say, ‘What rock have they been living under?’ ”

“And we would be living under a rock if we did not realize the severity of the budget crisis.”

Discussion: 14 comments so far…

By gopher

8/25/08 at 5:13 a.m.

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Pay in Higher Ed = Lottery
So we are "still examining situation"? That means until media attention is gone. Then they will be given pay increases to compensate them for the inconvenience. Does the College's admin staff have no clue how to manage salaries? Why don't they just toss it out the window, as that method would be as effective.
By uddeboda

8/25/08 at 8:32 a.m.

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Whats wrong in having 2 people doing the same job, they can hold each others hands.
By Justscribe

8/25/08 at 10:02 a.m.

(Removed by the site staff)
By freuters84

8/25/08 at 11:42 a.m.

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"Justscribe" at 8/25/08 10:02am is a Rosenthal supporter as shown by postings on the "academia" posted on the SUN blog. Now you can see how nasty her people can be. No facts, lots of hate, lots of acidic words, presumptive demands, but most of all hate that oozes from their words. Their mission: destroy CSN.
By freuters84

8/25/08 at 11:43 a.m.

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Thank you SUN for removing justscribe at 8/25/08 at 10:02am! If only Rosenthal had the same journalism ethics.
By neiman1

8/25/08 at 11:46 a.m.

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If it wasn't so serious it would be funny. These people at CSN seem to think they are immune to the economy and will just continue to do as they please. Cut their funds and fire some people.
By MichaelGreen

8/25/08 at 2:45 p.m.

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Neiman, I don't take that personally, although I do teach at CSN. But I wondered if you could be more specific. Who would you fire? Where would you cut the funds? It might interest you to know that CSN already is underfunded in relation to all other schools in the system, so I am sure that we would all appreciate suggestions as to where else to cut.
By azsk8fan

8/26/08 at 9:28 a.m.

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An awful lot of mumbo-jumbo double-talk if ya ask me. Does anyone really know what spokesperson KC said in response to the question asked.........nope, didn't think so.
By azsk8fan

8/26/08 at 9:30 a.m.

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Sounds to me like they got along fine without 'Bob' so maybe he would be the one to let go.......what a novel idea.
By mikeg

8/26/08 at 12:40 p.m.

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Um gee Michael Green maybe they should cut one of the two people RECEIVING $100,000+ for doing the EXACT SAME JOB as detailed in the article above? With one of them being on paid administrative leave (ie a big freakin taxpayer funded holiday) for months.

Did you even read the article? How many real teachers could they hire with that money?

It's not rocket science, sir. It's respect for the community.
By Joe6

8/26/08 at 12:57 p.m.

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And of course, they will be unable to cut their operations at all even though revenues are down. Why do we (the public) put up with wasteful spending like this year after year?
By ramon_leith

8/26/08 at 1:04 p.m.

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These people are here to spend your money. If you do not like it, you got to have your head examined.

All jobs in Las Vegas are hard and underpaid BUT not in Education. That's just how it is going to be.
By kurtz

8/26/08 at 3:51 p.m.

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meanwhile the nevada education association is doing all it can and more to stop a property tax limit. education in nevada is looking more about power and fraud than education. it's a crime.
By zerstuckelung

8/27/08 at 12:05 a.m.

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