Paul Turnbull’s contract above
industry standards
Incoming
Superintendent Paul Turnbull will be earning a salary above the state average
for superintendents.
According
to Turnbull’s contract, his yearly salary will be $ 176,000 — almost $20,000
above California’s statewide average.
According
to the California Education Department, high school superintendents made an
average of $156,676 in 2006-2007. The state superintendent earns $184,000.
Current
Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Superintendent Dr. Fred Van Leuven retires
at the end of the current school year, and Turnbull will step into the post in
June.
Turnbull
declined comment on his contract. “I have no comment on any of that,” he said.
Telephone
calls by the Valley Journal to SYVUHS School Board members were not returned.
Turnbull’s
contract stipulates that he represent the interests of the school board,
parents, and other community members. It also requires him to report to the
board information regarding student learning and analysis of student
achievement test scores. He also is required to work 220 days during a 12 month
period. Turnbull is entitled to 26 days of vacation and fully paid health
benefits, which is not uncommon for a senior executive.
The
contract also allows for one-time moving expenses up to $10,000 and $500.00 per
month, payable in advance, for travel and district-related expenses.
Though
many of the provisions of Turnbull’s contract are standard, such as working 220
days of the school year, a fully-paid benefits package, and vacation leave,
when compared to other superintendents’ contracts, both in the valley and
countywide, Turnbull will be earning above the norm for a superintendent
managing a two-school district.
Dr.
Kathleen Boomer, Goleta School District Superintendent, earns $151,000. Tom
Cooper, the Buellton School District superintendent, earns $132,000, and Allan
Pelletier, superintendent of Ballard School District, earns $110,000 annually.
Cooper said that it’s not uncommon for a district to pay
well to get someone qualified.