New Dist. 211 chief's package tops $200,000
Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 board members describe soon-to-be Superintendent Nancy Robb's contract as competitive but fiscally responsible.
"We looked the high end and the low end," board member Debra Strauss said. "I believe we're somewhere in the middle."
Robb's performance-based deal, which runs from Jan. 1, 2009, to June 30, 2012, will pay her about an annual average of $230,000, including salary and benefits. Her starting base salary is $205,000, and she'll be paid half of that for the period between Jan. 1 to June 30, 2009, as exiting Superintendent Roger Thornton elected to retire midyear.
"Typically, (three years) is always a good place to start. It gives you the right amount of time to see how well you work together," Strauss said.
Elgin Area School District U-46's new Superintendent Jose Torres agreed this summer to a $220,000 base salary. Northwest Suburban High School District 214's David Schuler made a base of $210,176 in 2007.
Robb earned a base salary of $172,958 in 2007 in her current post as District 211 associate superintendent for instruction. Her new contract was approved Aug. 21 and released this week.
Board members said they used Thornton's old contract as a template for Robb's. Thornton's base salary for 2008-09 is the prorated amount of $109,709. That translates to a full year's salary of $219,418.
"So far, what makes this a good deal is it gives us the ability to retain a highly-qualified superintendent that has a long history with our district," board President Robert LeFevre said of Robb, a 28-year veteran in District 211.
Under state requirements, the district will contribute an additional $18,988 annually to the state's teachers retirement fund. The state also requires an employer contribution of .58 percent toward the Teachers' Health Insurance Security fund. The district will pick up that yearly payment, which is $1,172. Teachers' Retirement System spokeswoman Eva Goltermann said it's very common for school districts to offer to pay that. Robb won't have the option of directly receiving those contributions.
The board also agreed to pay Robb a one-time transition stipend of $3,952. She's working with Thornton in preparation of assuming the mantle on top of her normal responsibilities.
The contract also includes an automobile stipend of $700 per month, or $8,400 per year, plus a district credit card to buy gas for her personal vehicle when used for school business.
Robb, like other District 211 administrators, will receive 15 paid sick days each school year. She will also receive 25 paid vacation days, which must be taken before Aug. 15 and after the school year ends. Unused vacation days in her last contract year have to be taken by June 30 or lost without compensation.
While former U-46 chief Connie Neale's name wasn't evoked during District 211 negotiations, the controversial retirement package she got was on a few District 211 board members' minds. Strauss called the Neale deal a "fiasco."
"Nothing in Dr. Robb's contract is remotely close to Neale's," LeFevre added.
Robb eligibility for raises will be determined by a list of performance goals that she'll help compile with the board and will include how she hopes to improve student achievement and maintain fiscal responsibility. The goals have yet to be finalized and are revised yearly. They'll be attached to the contract and approved by the board by Dec. 19.
"I think we've had an excellent start to the school year," Robb said, "and I look forward to great things."