Search for schools chief nears final phase

Terry Webster

Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999 | 11:43 a.m.

If managing a $1 billion budget, a staff of 20,000 and 217,000 students isn't enough responsibility, try adding the construction of about one new school a month and dealing with a growing at-risk student population.

How about hiring 2,000 new teachers a year?

These are some of the challenges the new superintendent of the Clark County School District will be facing.

The final phase of the search for a superintendent to replace Brian Cram, who retires in July 2000, starts in a little over a week. Throughout the process, the School Board has received input from a consulting firm it hired and an advisory committee. Suggestions have ranged from what to pay the district's new leader to what qualities he or she should have.

After the top candidates are flown to Las Vegas -- or plucked from the district-- a series of interviews and problem-solving exercises will begin, followed by decisions on salary and contractual issues. The slate of candidates will be announced Nov. 17, and the new superintendent is expected to be appointed by the School Board on Dec. 16.

When Cram leaves, he'll be taking a retirement package with him that includes 216 accumulated vacation days amounting to $138,168 and an early retirement option valued at about $60,000, making the total package worth about $198,000.

Cram said he didn't ask for anything more.

His four-year contract dates back to Jan. 1, 1997, and was set to expire July 31, 2000, the date his retirement now becomes effective.

A listing of what superintendents are paid in the top 10 largest school districts in the nation is one tool being used to gauge what Clark County should pay its new superintendent.

Right now, Clark County is paying the second-lowest base salary on the top 10 list. Cram currently earns $158,000 per year, with benefits and perks making the total package worth $241,029.

Additional benefits include an expense account ($5,000), auto expenses ($5,000), a yearly auto allowance ($4,000 with an initial cost of $21,000), vehicle license costs ($400), mandatory benefits ($33,306), employee benefits ($3,457), a $100,000 life insurance policy ($420), two vacation days per month ($15,352.32), retiree health insurance ($69.60), unused sick leave ($79.80), professional dues ($6,855), travel ($8,000), books and periodicals ($1,000) and five personal days, one universal personal leave day and 15 sick days, all of which are not paid if they are not used.

In the top 10 list of school districts, the highest base salary of $260,000 is paid in Dallas Public Schools; the lowest is Chicago at $150,000.

The Clark County School Board has said that it is willing to boost the superintendent's base salary to the $170,000 range. But Joe Schneider, deputy executive director of the American Association of School Administrators based in Arlington, Va., feels the district should loosen up its checkbook a little more.

"What's happening right now is the really good urban superintendents are essentially in the driver's seat," said Schneider."If Clark County wants one of the top urban superintendents who is already under contract, they are going to have to lure them out of that position."

Schneider predicted that a base salary of less than $200,000 is not going to attract much interest.

"Clark County has a good national reputation as a school system," said Schneider. "It's going to be a premier job, but nobody is going to do it without adequate compensation."

Figures on the accompanying chart on superintendent salaries for the 10 largest school districts in the nation reflect the most current student enrollment figures and superintendent salaries available, as given by the public relations departments of each individual district.

Reporting agencies that calculate school rankings often use student enrollment figures for the end, not the beginning of the school year. Additionally, a formula is used to account for Kindergarten students. Based on these and other factors, reporting agencies currently rank Clark County as the eighth largest school district, not the sixth.

Working in Clark County will be a challenge, Schneider said.

"It's a very tough situation," he said. "You've got challenges because of growth, and there is a big influx of low-income people coming into the community. It's going to be a challenge keeping the School Board happy while dealing with the changing demographics."

Schneider said he thinks Cram has done "a very good job."

"One of the things he has realized is that you make your reputation at home, not nationally," he said.