EDUCATION
No perks in Broward superintendent contract
Uncomfortable with some of the perks initially offered in his contract proposal, the Broward County School Board vote to increase the superintendent’s base pay but eliminate benefits like a monthly car stipend.
By Laura Figueroa
Broward’s incoming superintendent will earn $275,000 under a contract approved Tuesday by the county School Board.
The three-year deal extended to Robert Runcie will not include some perks that were initially written into the contract like a $500 monthly allowance for expenses and a $900 car stipend. Board members raised concerns about the public perception of the benefits during a period of financial hardship.
“The superintendent has to set the standard,” board member Ann Murray said. “We’re in a new era. We all live in the same economy. We all pay the same bills.”
The first draft of Runcie’s contract would have paid him $268,000, but the car and monthly allowance would have added $16,800, for a compensation package totaling $284,000.
The position was advertised as paying “around $275,000”, so board members opted to give Runcie the maximum advertised and eliminate the extras.
He will have access to a district vehicle, just as Miami-Dade Schools provides for Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.
Runcie, a former chief of staff to the Chicago Board of Education, was chosen for the job in September from more than 40 applicants. In Chicago, Runcie earned close to $180,000.
Broward will pay $20,000 toward his moving expenses.
Runcie, who ran a technology consulting firm before joining Chicago’s school district, will also have the right to work as a private consultant, but must do so on his “non-duty” time like vacation or holidays. He must provide the board with notification about any such work.
He will also have 24 paid vacation days and health insurance coverage for his wife and teenage daughter. That brought criticism from teacher Donna Shubert, who told the board that many teachers are struggling to pay for their own family’s insurance coverage.
“We’re down to the bones in the schools. We absolutely need the superintendent to face the same things we are,” Shubert said.
Runcie, who was watching the negotiations on TV from an office room at the K.C. Wright Administration Building, came down to speak to board members when the contract was finalized. He said he recognized the concerns about the perks, and was willing to negotiate with the board for their removal.
“Those concerns underscore the significant financial challenges facing the district, and I recognize that’s an issue,” Runcie said.
The contract also capped the amount Runcie could be paid if terminated without cause to one year’s salary. If he is terminated in the final year of his three-year contract, the district will only pay the remainder of time left on his contract.
While, Wednesday will mark the first official day of his contract, board members noted that Runcie has been working without pay since receiving the job offer.
Last week, Runcie attended a training workshop with the board members in Gainesville, and has started meeting with them individually to ease into his transition.
In a memo to board members, he indicated wanting to add two new positions to the district’s administration - a chief of staff and director of performance management.
Runcie will also speak at a community forum scheduled for 7p.m. Thursday at Plantation High School, 6901 NW 16th St.. The forum, sponsored by the district’s new Parent/Community Involvement Task Force, is the first of three to encourage parents and community leaders to get involved in their local schools.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/04/2437927/broward-school-board-mulling-superintendents.html#ixzz1a8tqmvxX
Editor's Note: There are over 255,000 students in the above school district. Pleasantdale has approx. 800.
No perks in Broward superintendent contract
Uncomfortable with some of the perks initially offered in his contract proposal, the Broward County School Board vote to increase the superintendent’s base pay but eliminate benefits like a monthly car stipend.
By Laura Figueroa
Broward’s incoming superintendent will earn $275,000 under a contract approved Tuesday by the county School Board.
The three-year deal extended to Robert Runcie will not include some perks that were initially written into the contract like a $500 monthly allowance for expenses and a $900 car stipend. Board members raised concerns about the public perception of the benefits during a period of financial hardship.
“The superintendent has to set the standard,” board member Ann Murray said. “We’re in a new era. We all live in the same economy. We all pay the same bills.”
The first draft of Runcie’s contract would have paid him $268,000, but the car and monthly allowance would have added $16,800, for a compensation package totaling $284,000.
The position was advertised as paying “around $275,000”, so board members opted to give Runcie the maximum advertised and eliminate the extras.
He will have access to a district vehicle, just as Miami-Dade Schools provides for Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.
Runcie, a former chief of staff to the Chicago Board of Education, was chosen for the job in September from more than 40 applicants. In Chicago, Runcie earned close to $180,000.
Broward will pay $20,000 toward his moving expenses.
Runcie, who ran a technology consulting firm before joining Chicago’s school district, will also have the right to work as a private consultant, but must do so on his “non-duty” time like vacation or holidays. He must provide the board with notification about any such work.
He will also have 24 paid vacation days and health insurance coverage for his wife and teenage daughter. That brought criticism from teacher Donna Shubert, who told the board that many teachers are struggling to pay for their own family’s insurance coverage.
“We’re down to the bones in the schools. We absolutely need the superintendent to face the same things we are,” Shubert said.
Runcie, who was watching the negotiations on TV from an office room at the K.C. Wright Administration Building, came down to speak to board members when the contract was finalized. He said he recognized the concerns about the perks, and was willing to negotiate with the board for their removal.
“Those concerns underscore the significant financial challenges facing the district, and I recognize that’s an issue,” Runcie said.
The contract also capped the amount Runcie could be paid if terminated without cause to one year’s salary. If he is terminated in the final year of his three-year contract, the district will only pay the remainder of time left on his contract.
While, Wednesday will mark the first official day of his contract, board members noted that Runcie has been working without pay since receiving the job offer.
Last week, Runcie attended a training workshop with the board members in Gainesville, and has started meeting with them individually to ease into his transition.
In a memo to board members, he indicated wanting to add two new positions to the district’s administration - a chief of staff and director of performance management.
Runcie will also speak at a community forum scheduled for 7p.m. Thursday at Plantation High School, 6901 NW 16th St.. The forum, sponsored by the district’s new Parent/Community Involvement Task Force, is the first of three to encourage parents and community leaders to get involved in their local schools.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/04/2437927/broward-school-board-mulling-superintendents.html#ixzz1a8tqmvxX
Editor's Note: There are over 255,000 students in the above school district. Pleasantdale has approx. 800.
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