Apparently school budget crises have not "trickled up" to the Department of Education. According to an article in Education Week , the U.S. Department of Education gave more than $5.7 million in bonuses to its employees in the 2003 calendar year. One student-aid official raked in $71,250 on top of an annual salary. Read the full article at: www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=01Bonus.h24.

Career Change?

From a job listing on CraigsList.com:

Law Enforcement: If you are looking for a secure but flexible job, then this may be it. Metropolitan Interpreters & Translators, Inc. has been awarded a five-year contract by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to staff and manage a nationwide program of telephone wiretaps. Monitors for this contract are needed in both English and in foreign languages.

As a monitor or linguist under this contract, you will assist the Department of Homeland Security with their war against terrorism by monitoring court ordered telephone intercepts. Positions are available throughout the United States with a primary need along the Southwest border, the Southeast, Northeast, North-west and major cities through the center of the country.

Salaries will be commensurate with the candidate's background and experience as well as language capabilities, but will range from $15.00 per hour, up to $45.00 per hour, depending on the language. We are offering a slightly higher compensation for candidates who already have a valid security clearance and for individuals fluent in uncommon or exotic languages.