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