| The Houston Chronicle conducted a study | | | | Burns at Angleton was the lowest paid |
| and published its results in mid-March. | | | | with $117,700 for 6,559 students; |
| As part of the Sunshine Week | | | | however, Burns earned approximately |
| open-records program of the American | | | | $17.94 per student. La Porte's Michael |
| Society of Newspaper Editors, the | | | | Say earned $186,720 for 7,623 students - |
| newspaper surveyed the compensation | | | | that is almost $24.50 per student. |
| packages of superintendents across the | | | | Obviously, superintendent salaries do |
| state, finding that ten regional | | | | not match up to the student populations. |
| superintendents in greater Houston | | | | Compared to the Houston schools |
| exceed $199,000 in annual salary. | | | | superintendent's salary, it looks as |
| They narrowed their research to Harris, | | | | though it would be more lucrative to |
| Montgomery, Fort Bend, Galveston and | | | | work for the smaller school districts. |
| Brazoria counties, looking only at the | | | | Mary Barrett, assistant director for the |
| base salaries for superintendents. | | | | Texas Association of School Boards, |
| Though many compensation packages | | | | stated that some smaller school |
| include car allowances, retirement | | | | districts want larger district |
| packages, and performance incentives, | | | | experience and have to pay more to get |
| such perks would be more difficult to | | | | it. She also said that other factors |
| compare. Each contract is negotiated | | | | impact the salary offered to |
| individually and perks vary from | | | | superintendents, other than student |
| contract-to-contract for | | | | enrollment. |
| superintendents. | | | | Paul Wilson, associate executive |
| The study, which focused on the | | | | director of the Texas Association of |
| 2004-2005 school year, found that the | | | | School Administrator, stated |
| Houston schools superintendent, Abelardo | | | | superintendents earn their pay. |
| Saavedra, is the highest paid at | | | | Superintendents, such as in the Houston |
| $278,100; however, the Houston schools | | | | schools with its large student |
| also is the largest district in Texas | | | | population, is worth the salaries set by |
| with a student population of 208,945. | | | | local trustees. |
| That means Saavedra was paid a little | | | | In many areas, the school district |
| more than $1.33 per student. | | | | represents the largest business |
| Second to the Houston schools | | | | operation and the largest employer. |
| superintendent is Louis Stoerner at | | | | Superintendents must manage both money |
| Alief. Stoerner made $271,500 with an | | | | and children - the two areas about which |
| enrollment of 45,571 students. Stoerner | | | | taxpayers most care. It is an enormous |
| was paid a little more than $5.95 per | | | | responsibility with a strong potential |
| student. | | | | for public criticism and constant |
| Next is David Anthony at Cy-Fair, the | | | | scrutiny. For districts, such as the |
| second only to the Houston schools as | | | | Houston schools, the job is very |
| the largest school district in the | | | | demanding, dealing with many internal |
| state. Anthony made $250,000 with an | | | | and external challenges. |
| enrollment of 80,000 students. He was | | | | After seeing these numbers, perhaps the |
| paid a little more than $3.12 per | | | | Houston schools will give Saavedra a |
| student. | | | | raise. |
| Of the smaller school districts, Heath | | | | |