Reply #17: While school superintendents are getting raises and super-sized benefits:

[somone]

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/investigations/kxan-investigates-super-salaries

...With Texas facing a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall, every school district is facing tough decisions. Some districts are considering closing schools and laying off teachers. So, why are some districts giving their superintendent raises and super-sized benefits? And do parents really know what their superintendent earns? Apparently, not. Martin Benavides and Mark Hoelscher were out fighting to keep their kids school from being closed and were shocked to learn what several local superintendents are being paid.

The base salary for Austin ISD superintendent, Meria Carstarphan makes $283,412 per year. Her district has more than 80,000 students. Round Rock ISD superintendent has more than 40,000 students, and its superintendents base salary is $252,875. Eanes ISD has about 7,500 students and its superintendents base salary is $231,063. "Absolutely doesn’t make sense," said Mark Hoelscher, when told of some of the perks awarded superintendents in addition to their base salaries. Said Benavides: "That's crazy. I think these kids are a lot more important than anyone’s salary."

Those salaries are just the beginning. Many superintendents are paid a car allowance. Superintendents in Austin, Leander and Georgetown school districts get $1,000 per month. But big car allowances aren't just a big district perk. Elgin ISD has six campuses. Its superintendent gets a car allowance of $661 per month. Bastrop ISD’s superintendent gets $650 per month, and LaGrange ISD’s car allowance is $550 per month for its top administrator. Even though Florence and Jarrell ISD have only three schools, their superintendents get a car allowance of $500 per month. So do Burnet, Liberty Hill, Dripping Springs ISD superintendents.

Car allowances are just the beginning when it comes to perks. Eanes ISD superintendent Nola Wellman gets about $70,000 in extra benefits added on to her $231,063 base salary. The district reimburses her for the amount she pays for her contribution to the Teacher Retirement System, which is approximately $40,000 per year. The district also pays the income and medicare tax on the extra pay. Wellman is paid $31,500 in an annuity account which increases $500 each year. Eanes pays $2,983 for premiums on a $560,000 life insurance policy. Wellman gets an additional $5,000 as an annual bonus and earlier this year, the Eanes Board of Trustees voted to pay her another $10,000 for expenses she doesn’t have to report or justify. The perks push Wellmans salary to more than $320,000...