School board ponders salary point for elected superintendent
The Lee County School Board agrees: A market analysis report is needed before it can decide how much an elected superintendent should be paid.
“I think that a market rate analysis is appropriate to determine what salary feels appropriate,” Board Member Chris Patricia said at a recent meeting. “A market analysis gives us a specific number.”
The board also suggested including other elected official salaries in the county as part of the analysis.
Lee County voters approved a change from an appointed superintendent to an elected superintendent via a referendum in November. The measure — which was placed on the ballot by the State Legislature and was opposed by the school board — passed with 62.15 percent of the voters in favor, making the superintendent’s post another elected constitutional office as of the 2024 General Election.
The existing system of having the superintendent appointed by the board had been approved by Lee voters in 1974.
The elected superintendent will serve a four-year term.
As a result of the voter mandate, the qualifications will change. The only qualifications will be that candidates must live in the district and be a registered voter in the county. As with other constitutional officers, only the governor could remove or terminate them from office and only for malfeasance.
The conversation began by Board Member Sam Fisher stating that he thought $200,000 should be a starting point for a superintendent salary.
“Superintendent is such a time-consuming job. You are pretty much on call all the time,” he said. “I think when we are looking at salaries it needs to reflect that, somewhere north of $200,000.”
Other board members agreed that could possibly be the baseline salary.
“I think we should really talk about a policy and market rate analysis,” Board Member Cathleen Morgan said.
Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier’s annual base salary is $255,000.
Chair Armor Persons also offered a suggestion of providing a salary that is 15 percent above the highest paid administrator.
“I believe that would put us somewhere in the correct market level,” he said. “The superintendent has a tremendous amount of responsibility. The safety of 100,000 kids, huge budget and large amount of employees. I do think we need to try to move forward with a set salary as soon as we can. They should know what they are running for.”
Persons went on to say that the board needs to set the salary high enough to get good, qualified candidates.
“The public will elect the right person, I am confident with that,” he said.
Persons said they should also talk about the Florida Retirement System, as those who run for a superintendent may be a former retired school teacher who cannot go back into the system. The board may have to put something into policy that an alternate retirement system may be needed.
Morgan said they do not have enough information to continue the conversation.
“I think we ought to come back and have the conversation again with more information and understanding we will identify the criteria that will go into policy,” she said.
Board Attorney Kathy Dupuy-Bruno reminded the board that it does not want to get into a position where it is negotiating a salary.
“This is an elected superintendent. The scope is very narrow. This isn’t your employee. It’s an employee of the constituents. Really, the only boss is the constituents and governor,” she said.
District staff will conduct additional research to bring back more information at a later meeting.
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