Superintendent: I didn't ask for an extension
Board considers adding up to $12K to Gausman's housing stipend
By Earl Horlykehorlyk@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Wednesday, November 26, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- Sioux City Community School Board President Doug Batcheller said Tuesday that board members considered extending new Superintendent Paul Gausman's monthly housing stipend in closed-door session Monday night because they want him to "stay focused strictly on the needs of the district."
The board made no decision on extending Gausman's $1,000 monthly housing stipend to 12 months, beyond its original six-month cut-off date, when it met Monday night.
Gausman's three-year contract stipulates that the board will reimburse the superintendent for his moving expenses and pay the housing stipend for up to six months. The proposed new language states "the board shall also provide (Gausman) a housing stipend of $1,000 per month for a period of 18 months beginning in July 2008 or through the end of the month in which (Gausman) closes the sale of his (Hartford, S.D.) residence."
The housing stipend, if approved, would add another $12,000 to the $6,000 Gausman agreed to when he began his tenure as Sioux City's top school official.
According to a search made on Realtor.com, Gausman's five-bedroom home in Hartford, S.D., remains on the market with an asking price of $264,900. Gausman said he has already purchased a home in Sioux City.
"(Extending the housing stipend) wasn't anything that I personally brought up," Gausman said on Tuesday. "The board knew my Hartford house was still for sale and that the stipend period was set to end in the next few months. It was the board who decided to take up the matter."
School board president Doug Batcheller said he and other school board members "wrestled with the weight" of the extra expenditure at a time of financial uncertainty for the district. He said board members are aware Gausman's salary has generated discussion.
Gausman's $190,000 salary as Sioux City's superintendent is more than double the $91,320 he made as superintendent of the West Hartford School District. The Sioux City Journal reported in April that the base salary Gausman was offered made him the third-highest paid superintendent in Iowa. Sioux City's previous superintendent, Larry Williams, was paid $160,000.
Batcheller said Tuesday that Gausman's salary ranks seventh among Iowa's eight-member Urban Education District. The district includes Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Sioux City and Waterloo. The Journal was unable to independently confirm that assertion by deadline.
Batcheller said the board felt that consideration to Gausman's financial situation needed to be addressed.
"We want Paul to stay focused strictly on the needs of the district," he said. "The best way to do that is to make him feel financially comfortable in the district."
"Paul works 70 - 80 hours a week for this district," Batcheller said. "We are absolutely certain that we chose the right person for the job. This is a relatively small matter for us."
Batcheller said he's uncertain if the extension will be brought up again, but Gausman said such a move is not likely.
At a glance
What's new: The Sioux City Community School Board considered extending Gausman's $1,000 monthly housing stipend to 12 months Monday night but took no action.
What we knew: The board came under fire earlier this year when they agreed to pay Gausman $190,000, more than double the $91,320 he made as superintendent of the West Hartford School District. Previous superintendent Larry Williams was paid $160,000
Why it matters: School board president Doug Batcheller said he and other school board members "wrestled with the weight" of the extra expenditure of taxpayer money at a time of financial uncertainty for the district.
What's next: Batcheller said he's uncertain if the extension will be brought up again but Gausman said such a move is not likely.
The board made no decision on extending Gausman's $1,000 monthly housing stipend to 12 months, beyond its original six-month cut-off date, when it met Monday night.
Gausman's three-year contract stipulates that the board will reimburse the superintendent for his moving expenses and pay the housing stipend for up to six months. The proposed new language states "the board shall also provide (Gausman) a housing stipend of $1,000 per month for a period of 18 months beginning in July 2008 or through the end of the month in which (Gausman) closes the sale of his (Hartford, S.D.) residence."
The housing stipend, if approved, would add another $12,000 to the $6,000 Gausman agreed to when he began his tenure as Sioux City's top school official.
According to a search made on Realtor.com, Gausman's five-bedroom home in Hartford, S.D., remains on the market with an asking price of $264,900. Gausman said he has already purchased a home in Sioux City.
"(Extending the housing stipend) wasn't anything that I personally brought up," Gausman said on Tuesday. "The board knew my Hartford house was still for sale and that the stipend period was set to end in the next few months. It was the board who decided to take up the matter."
School board president Doug Batcheller said he and other school board members "wrestled with the weight" of the extra expenditure at a time of financial uncertainty for the district. He said board members are aware Gausman's salary has generated discussion.
Gausman's $190,000 salary as Sioux City's superintendent is more than double the $91,320 he made as superintendent of the West Hartford School District. The Sioux City Journal reported in April that the base salary Gausman was offered made him the third-highest paid superintendent in Iowa. Sioux City's previous superintendent, Larry Williams, was paid $160,000.
Batcheller said Tuesday that Gausman's salary ranks seventh among Iowa's eight-member Urban Education District. The district includes Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Sioux City and Waterloo. The Journal was unable to independently confirm that assertion by deadline.
Batcheller said the board felt that consideration to Gausman's financial situation needed to be addressed.
"We want Paul to stay focused strictly on the needs of the district," he said. "The best way to do that is to make him feel financially comfortable in the district."
"Paul works 70 - 80 hours a week for this district," Batcheller said. "We are absolutely certain that we chose the right person for the job. This is a relatively small matter for us."
Batcheller said he's uncertain if the extension will be brought up again, but Gausman said such a move is not likely.
At a glance
What's new: The Sioux City Community School Board considered extending Gausman's $1,000 monthly housing stipend to 12 months Monday night but took no action.
What we knew: The board came under fire earlier this year when they agreed to pay Gausman $190,000, more than double the $91,320 he made as superintendent of the West Hartford School District. Previous superintendent Larry Williams was paid $160,000
Why it matters: School board president Doug Batcheller said he and other school board members "wrestled with the weight" of the extra expenditure of taxpayer money at a time of financial uncertainty for the district.
What's next: Batcheller said he's uncertain if the extension will be brought up again but Gausman said such a move is not likely.
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Big Picture wrote on Nov 26, 2008 9:59 PM:
Babbalouie wrote on Nov 26, 2008 6:02 PM:
Junior wrote on Nov 26, 2008 5:13 PM:
Also, I hope the board is still feeling generous when it comes time to negotiate the next teacher contract. "
Kris wrote on Nov 26, 2008 11:51 AM:
jcsscia wrote on Nov 26, 2008 10:08 AM: