BURKEonBOARD

(Sept. 21, 2008) – A front page story in today’s (Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008) Pioneer Press shines the light on a problem we know only too well here in Farmington—school superintendent contracts designed to hide the real cost of contracts school boards give superintendents. The story is also online.

A Pioneer Press analysis of 26 east metro districts finds superintendent salaries — often augmented with extra benefits — are growing faster than teacher pay under contracts that are difficult for the average taxpayer to understand. But officials say the incentive packages are necessary to entice district heads to stick around.

Five years ago, the Minnesota state auditor’s office told some school boards they were too generous with superintendents’ severance packages, sick leave and vacation pay, making it hard for taxpayers to determine just how much superintendents were getting paid.

While some school districts have taken heed, others have not. Read the full story online.