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