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Superintendents' Super-Sized Salaries
Submitted by mlevin on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 12:52pm.
As hundreds of Texas school districts insist that they are broke and need to raise taxes, last week the Lake Travis ISD voted to give superintendent Rocky Kirk a $6,000 pay raise. This brings his base salary to $231,520, which does not include numerous benefits.
It is well out of proportion with other similarly sized districts. Superintendents of much larger districts make considerably less, such as Montgomery County ISD ($177,650), McAllen ISD ($184,000), and San Marcos ISD ($161,000). However, there are other examples of salaries that are out of line with similarly-sized districts.
Beaumont ISD Superintendent Carroll Thomas has a whopping base salary of $322,117, the second highest in the state. And remember these are base salaries - many superintendents receive not just health insurance and pensions, but also life insurance, car allowances, and health club memberships.
Worst of all, many times when a superintendent must be removed for poor performance, districts must pay hundreds of thousands for work that is never done because these contracts are multi-year. School districts need to look carefully at both the pay of their top administrators as well as the compensation and number of non-teaching staff working in their central office before they ask yet again for more taxpayer money.
The full Texas Education Agency list of Texas superintendent base salaries is online. And read the Austin American Statesman article about Rocky Kirk's payraise.
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Write Your Legislator!Join TFRTFR SpeakersLinksDonate
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News/CommentsCommentariesScorecardPodcastHome
Superintendents' Super-Sized Salaries
Submitted by mlevin on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 12:52pm.
As hundreds of Texas school districts insist that they are broke and need to raise taxes, last week the Lake Travis ISD voted to give superintendent Rocky Kirk a $6,000 pay raise. This brings his base salary to $231,520, which does not include numerous benefits.
It is well out of proportion with other similarly sized districts. Superintendents of much larger districts make considerably less, such as Montgomery County ISD ($177,650), McAllen ISD ($184,000), and San Marcos ISD ($161,000). However, there are other examples of salaries that are out of line with similarly-sized districts.
Beaumont ISD Superintendent Carroll Thomas has a whopping base salary of $322,117, the second highest in the state. And remember these are base salaries - many superintendents receive not just health insurance and pensions, but also life insurance, car allowances, and health club memberships.
Worst of all, many times when a superintendent must be removed for poor performance, districts must pay hundreds of thousands for work that is never done because these contracts are multi-year. School districts need to look carefully at both the pay of their top administrators as well as the compensation and number of non-teaching staff working in their central office before they ask yet again for more taxpayer money.
The full Texas Education Agency list of Texas superintendent base salaries is online. And read the Austin American Statesman article about Rocky Kirk's payraise.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
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mlevin's blog Add new comment Printer friendly version
Use this section to post comments about anything. No foul language, please.
Comment here on Cleburne ISD and the TEA Final Report.
Should personnel involved in misspending be rewarded by being paid consultant fees past their termination date? Should newly retired persons who were involved be rehired for any reason for any length of time?
Should the Financial Officer (a CPA since 1982) in charge during all the misspending and lack of control keep his job at full salary (but with less duties) and get off without even a reprimand?
Should Criminal Charges be filed by CISD?
Should parents file a class action suit against CISD for misspending money meant to educate their kids and thereby depriving their kids of the proper education?
Should personnel involved in misspending be rewarded by being paid consultant fees past their termination date? Should newly retired persons who were involved be rehired for any reason for any length of time?
Should the Financial Officer (a CPA since 1982) in charge during all the misspending and lack of control keep his job at full salary (but with less duties) and get off without even a reprimand?
Should Criminal Charges be filed by CISD?
Should parents file a class action suit against CISD for misspending money meant to educate their kids and thereby depriving their kids of the proper education?
12/05: Either it is or it isn't.
Nepotism (nep-o-tis-em)
This word is defined in the dictionary lookup on the Microsoft Works Word Processor as; Favortism shown to relatives.
Favortism shown by someone in power to relatives & friends, especially in appointing them to good positions.
Now then it is apparent to me that Brad Allen is not qualified to be on the CISD Board because of the word described. A person doesn’t necessarily have to be caught in the act but, be in a position to do so. A relitive of Mr. Allen does work for the school system which clinches Nepotism.
In working for the Federal Government it was a terrible no-no to have the situation as described above.
If Allen had to resign to allow a family member to be hired why then can he qualify to be in a position of power.
This word is defined in the dictionary lookup on the Microsoft Works Word Processor as; Favortism shown to relatives.
Favortism shown by someone in power to relatives & friends, especially in appointing them to good positions.
Now then it is apparent to me that Brad Allen is not qualified to be on the CISD Board because of the word described. A person doesn’t necessarily have to be caught in the act but, be in a position to do so. A relitive of Mr. Allen does work for the school system which clinches Nepotism.
In working for the Federal Government it was a terrible no-no to have the situation as described above.
If Allen had to resign to allow a family member to be hired why then can he qualify to be in a position of power.
02/04: Cleburne ISD Situation
Post your thoughts on the Cleburne ISD situation here.
Should the TEA report be made public? CISD is trying to withhold it.
Robert Damron was reassigned and is no longer Superintendent.
The School Board has tough decisions to make.
Is this the tip of the iceberg?
Should the TEA report be made public? CISD is trying to withhold it.
Robert Damron was reassigned and is no longer Superintendent.
The School Board has tough decisions to make.
Is this the tip of the iceberg?
22/03: TSTA
Union Don’ts [Should this continue?]
Speaking of Leo Berman… He’s stirring up a hornets’ nest of trouble by asking the Texas Attorney General if it’s legal for taxpayers to have to pay for the payroll deductions that fund a teacher union’s political action committee. While teacher dues to the Texas State Teacher Association are voluntary, taxpayers have no choice but to see their tax dollars used to facilitate political contributions.
(Yeah, yeah, I know: TSTA isn’t a union. Sure, and that water fowl waddling down the street quacking isn’t a duck.)
TSTA’s PAC has been a notorious supporter of left-wing causes, liberal candidates and anti-taxpayer efforts. That they use taxpayer resources to facilitate the funding is simply unconscionable.
Like all unions, TSTA relies on payroll deductions. They know that if teachers had to actually write a monthly check for their dues and political contributions, they would find better ways to spend the money. Payroll deductions let the union grab the cash before the teachers ever see it.
Speaking of Leo Berman… He’s stirring up a hornets’ nest of trouble by asking the Texas Attorney General if it’s legal for taxpayers to have to pay for the payroll deductions that fund a teacher union’s political action committee. While teacher dues to the Texas State Teacher Association are voluntary, taxpayers have no choice but to see their tax dollars used to facilitate political contributions.
(Yeah, yeah, I know: TSTA isn’t a union. Sure, and that water fowl waddling down the street quacking isn’t a duck.)
TSTA’s PAC has been a notorious supporter of left-wing causes, liberal candidates and anti-taxpayer efforts. That they use taxpayer resources to facilitate the funding is simply unconscionable.
Like all unions, TSTA relies on payroll deductions. They know that if teachers had to actually write a monthly check for their dues and political contributions, they would find better ways to spend the money. Payroll deductions let the union grab the cash before the teachers ever see it.
Do you think the community, the school board candidates, the prospective superintendents, the voters and the taxpayers have a right to know the contents of the Texas Education Agency investigation into the use and misuse of Federal Funds?
CISD apparently plans to withhold the report from the public as long as they can.
CISD apparently plans to withhold the report from the public as long as they can.
25/01: Dumards in Dumas
They just don't get it and, they are teaching our children?
Gene
Dumas Superintendent: Don’t Trust Taxpayers [Your thoughts?]
While most Texans think its high-time for taxpayers to have a stronger say in tax levies, one school superintendent doesn’t trust the people who pay his salary.
Larry Appel, Dumas ISD superintendent, denounced voter approval for tax hikes, saying, "It is much harder to convince them to vote for a tax increase" since most voters don't "typically have kids in school."
Gene
Dumas Superintendent: Don’t Trust Taxpayers [Your thoughts?]
While most Texans think its high-time for taxpayers to have a stronger say in tax levies, one school superintendent doesn’t trust the people who pay his salary.
Larry Appel, Dumas ISD superintendent, denounced voter approval for tax hikes, saying, "It is much harder to convince them to vote for a tax increase" since most voters don't "typically have kids in school."
04/01: Ah it's for the children??
This from Empower Texans -info@empowertexans.com
Think!]
Yes, your property taxes are high. Yes, your small business is facing overwhelming taxes. Yes, public education consumes a third of the state’s budget and nearly two-thirds of your property tax bill.
But the beast is hungry, and only your last penny will satisfy it. The education lobby is hinting at another round of lawsuits (paid for with your tax dollars) that would force more spending by the state… of your money. Neat trick, eh? As the election season gets underway, prepare for calls for "more state funding" to be a theme. Just be sure to ask, "What have you accomplished with the money you're already taking?" And then ask to see the proof.
Think!]
Yes, your property taxes are high. Yes, your small business is facing overwhelming taxes. Yes, public education consumes a third of the state’s budget and nearly two-thirds of your property tax bill.
But the beast is hungry, and only your last penny will satisfy it. The education lobby is hinting at another round of lawsuits (paid for with your tax dollars) that would force more spending by the state… of your money. Neat trick, eh? As the election season gets underway, prepare for calls for "more state funding" to be a theme. Just be sure to ask, "What have you accomplished with the money you're already taking?" And then ask to see the proof.
What is a Patriot?
Patriotism dow not mean we are to blindly support our government no matter what it does. A few years ago, many bumper stickers read, "My Country, Right or Wrong!" This insinuated that we should agree with every policy and every action that America undertakes. But unfortunately that quote is taken out of context. The actual admonition was much different. What Carl Schurz actually said in his 1892 address to congress was: "Our country, right or wrong: When right to be kept right and when wrong to be put right!" - quoted from Miles Wesner, Baptist Minister, Tom, Oklahoma.
Patriotism dow not mean we are to blindly support our government no matter what it does. A few years ago, many bumper stickers read, "My Country, Right or Wrong!" This insinuated that we should agree with every policy and every action that America undertakes. But unfortunately that quote is taken out of context. The actual admonition was much different. What Carl Schurz actually said in his 1892 address to congress was: "Our country, right or wrong: When right to be kept right and when wrong to be put right!" - quoted from Miles Wesner, Baptist Minister, Tom, Oklahoma.
