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Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Superintendent Pay: Is It Acceptable?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Did you know that one of Georgia’s public school superintendents made more than $347,000 last year?
Think it was J. Alvin Wilbanks, superintendent of the state’s largest school system? Or, maybe you’d guess it was State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox.
Think again.
The title of the highest-paid superintendent in Georgia goes to Atlanta’s own Beverly L. Hall. Last year, she earned exactly $347,228.95, according to this nifty database from the State Department of Audits and Accounts.
In the metro area, the next highest-paid superintendent was Gwinnett County’s Wilbanks ($276,063.98), followed by Crawford Lewis in DeKalb County ($233,655.10) and James Wilson in Fulton ($187,721.88).
This year, Hall will make at least $260,000 in salary — plus a hefty $66,000 performance bonus, which the Atlanta Board of Education approved last night.
Hall’s been receiving sizeable annual bonuses since 2000. So far, she’s pocketed close to $329,000 in monetary rewards.
The pay-for-performance system was part of Hall’s contract when she was hired in 1999; and, it’s sure to continue with her new contract, which the board is working on now.
In the past, board members have said they think Hall should be treated just like a CEO of a major corporation where performance bonuses are common. Some have commended her for agreeing to tie some of her pay to tangible results, such as increases in student test scores.
But let’s not forget that Hall and other schools chiefs are public servants — appointed by publicly elected boards, which pay their salaries with public tax dollars.
So tell me: Is your superintendent’s salary acceptable?
