Jorgensen: New school chief's $190,000 pay justified
Sioux City district 'almost dead last' when it comes to benefits, he says
By Earl Horlyk Journal staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, April 29, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- Characterizing it as "consistent with a comparably sized district," Sioux City Community School Board president Ron Jorgensen on Monday night outlined the contract offered to incoming Superintendent Paul Gausman.
As part of the three-year deal beginning July 1, Gausman would receive:
-- A base annual salary of $190,000.
-- In lieu of reimbursement for use of his personal vehicle, a travel stipend of $500 a month
-- $775 a month to buy insurance, with increases corresponding to increases for other administrators under the district's plan.
-- Reimbursement for moving his family from their home in Hartford, S.D., to a home in Sioux City and up to $1,000 a month to rent a home for six months or until he closes on the sale of his current home, whichever is less.
-- A BlackBerry or comparable wireless phone and a laptop computer.
-- Up to $1,000 a year for dues to state and national professional associations.
The board is expected to vote to approve Gausman's contract at a special meeting at noon today.
Jorgensen admitted the $190,000 contract "was a shock to my system" but added the board "acted prudently" when it began its search to replace retiring Superintendent Larry Williams.
"When (the board) entered this process," he said, "we asked ourselves what we wanted in our next superintendent and what would be in the community's best interest."
"What we decided was in the best interest in the community," Jorgensen said, "was to entice the best possible candidate."
Looking at their peer school districts within the Urban Education Network, or UEN, the board noted that two slightly smaller school districts, Council Bluffs and Waterloo, were also looking for superintendents.
"Both of those districts advertised base salaries starting at $195,000," Jorgensen said. "Consultants that the board hired to help us with our search recommended that we advertise for nothing less than $190,000."
Steve Crary, the district's director of human resources, said the base salary was needed "to keep the district competitive and to attract a high caliber of individual."
The job, advertised nationally, statewide andlocally, attracted 15 candidates.
"That just goes to show how small a pool there is for superintendents," Crary added.
That pool was narrowed to six by consultants before being narrowed again to four by the board.
Of the four, Jorgensen said, "I think we have a great candidate in Gausman."
Noting Gausman's current salary of $91,320 as superintendent in Hartford, Jorgensen said the board never considered lowering its salary offer. "We would not engage in a game of bait and switch," he said. "That's no way to build a level of trust."
Jorgensen also said the public should not compare Gausman's contract with those of superintendents in other school districts.
"That would be like comparing apples with oranges," he said. "In terms of benefits, we'd rather compare apples to apples."
Jorgensen said while other school districts pay full health benefits, the Sioux City district pays for only half.
"Other districts pay toward a retirement plan," he said, "we do not. Also, other districts have been known to offer a signing fee for its new superintendent. We do not do that.
"In fact," Jorgensen continued, "in terms of benefits, we're almost dead last in the UEN."
"But," added Crary, "as a district, we're still competitive."
"I think the salary is very fair," said board member Nancy Mounts. "For a district our size, it's very fair."
Williams, whose salary at the end of the 2007-08 school year will be $150,000, agreed.
"I've always thought I've been compensated very well by the district," he said. "But I also knew what the salary range for a new superintendent would be."
Williams admitted that the salary "may be larger than what the community was bracing itself for," but he added the community would be in much worse shape "if the search had failed to find a suitable successor."
Board member Doug Batchellor said he believes Gausman will be such a successor.
"(Gausman) seems to be a person of quality," he said. "We were looking for a person who will be here as long as Larry, if not longer. If Gausman proves to be that man, I think this will be a bargain."
As part of the three-year deal beginning July 1, Gausman would receive:
-- A base annual salary of $190,000.
-- In lieu of reimbursement for use of his personal vehicle, a travel stipend of $500 a month
-- $775 a month to buy insurance, with increases corresponding to increases for other administrators under the district's plan.
-- Reimbursement for moving his family from their home in Hartford, S.D., to a home in Sioux City and up to $1,000 a month to rent a home for six months or until he closes on the sale of his current home, whichever is less.
-- A BlackBerry or comparable wireless phone and a laptop computer.
-- Up to $1,000 a year for dues to state and national professional associations.
The board is expected to vote to approve Gausman's contract at a special meeting at noon today.
Jorgensen admitted the $190,000 contract "was a shock to my system" but added the board "acted prudently" when it began its search to replace retiring Superintendent Larry Williams.
"When (the board) entered this process," he said, "we asked ourselves what we wanted in our next superintendent and what would be in the community's best interest."
"What we decided was in the best interest in the community," Jorgensen said, "was to entice the best possible candidate."
Looking at their peer school districts within the Urban Education Network, or UEN, the board noted that two slightly smaller school districts, Council Bluffs and Waterloo, were also looking for superintendents.
"Both of those districts advertised base salaries starting at $195,000," Jorgensen said. "Consultants that the board hired to help us with our search recommended that we advertise for nothing less than $190,000."
Steve Crary, the district's director of human resources, said the base salary was needed "to keep the district competitive and to attract a high caliber of individual."
The job, advertised nationally, statewide andlocally, attracted 15 candidates.
"That just goes to show how small a pool there is for superintendents," Crary added.
That pool was narrowed to six by consultants before being narrowed again to four by the board.
Of the four, Jorgensen said, "I think we have a great candidate in Gausman."
Noting Gausman's current salary of $91,320 as superintendent in Hartford, Jorgensen said the board never considered lowering its salary offer. "We would not engage in a game of bait and switch," he said. "That's no way to build a level of trust."
Jorgensen also said the public should not compare Gausman's contract with those of superintendents in other school districts.
"That would be like comparing apples with oranges," he said. "In terms of benefits, we'd rather compare apples to apples."
Jorgensen said while other school districts pay full health benefits, the Sioux City district pays for only half.
"Other districts pay toward a retirement plan," he said, "we do not. Also, other districts have been known to offer a signing fee for its new superintendent. We do not do that.
"In fact," Jorgensen continued, "in terms of benefits, we're almost dead last in the UEN."
"But," added Crary, "as a district, we're still competitive."
"I think the salary is very fair," said board member Nancy Mounts. "For a district our size, it's very fair."
Williams, whose salary at the end of the 2007-08 school year will be $150,000, agreed.
"I've always thought I've been compensated very well by the district," he said. "But I also knew what the salary range for a new superintendent would be."
Williams admitted that the salary "may be larger than what the community was bracing itself for," but he added the community would be in much worse shape "if the search had failed to find a suitable successor."
Board member Doug Batchellor said he believes Gausman will be such a successor.
"(Gausman) seems to be a person of quality," he said. "We were looking for a person who will be here as long as Larry, if not longer. If Gausman proves to be that man, I think this will be a bargain."
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Amy of the Lakes wrote on May 4, 2008 10:55 AM:
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