District 214 superintendent gets 5% raise, contract extension

Northwest Suburban High School District 214 Superintendent Scott Rowe has received a 5% raise and contract extension until 2031, the school board decided.

Rowe is finishing his third year at the helm of the Arlington Heights-based district, following five years at Huntley Community School District 158.

He was on a four-year employment agreement that was to run through June 30, 2027, but board members Thursday scrapped that deal and replaced it with a successor agreement that runs July 1 through June 30, 2031.

“Really happy to approve your extension, Dr. Rowe,” school board member Alva Kreutzer said after the 6-0 vote Thursday night. “I am very pleased that you’re going to be around for a few more years. Like the work that you’re doing and really appreciate all that you and your staff are doing.”

Rowe thanked the board for its vote of confidence.

“It is a deep honor to serve this district,” Rowe said. “But it’s definitely, as you said, much more than me. I have the best team in the business.”

His annual base salary for the 2026-2027 school year will be $321,059, marking a 5% increase from his current $305,760 compensation.

Rowe’s original contract, which started at a salary of $280,000, didn’t come with guaranteed raises, but the board has awarded increases in salary following annual evaluations in closed session.

The board gave him a 5% raise a year ago and a 4% pay bump a year before that.

According to the terms of the deal approved this week, Rowe will be entitled to annual increases matching those of other district administrators.

He’ll get 20 vacation days this upcoming contract year, then 25 in each subsequent year. He also gets four personal days a year.

Under the performance-based contract, Rowe annually will evaluate student performance on standardized tests, successful completion of the curriculum, and attendance and dropout rates; review the curriculum and instructional services; and review school finances.

He will then report to the school board on his findings as to student performance and make recommendations, if any, for curriculum or instructional changes.

Additional goals and indicators will be developed by the board in consultation with the superintendent by Oct. 15.