DeKalb Schools releases preliminary draft of new superintendent contract
- 8/19/11
- Categorized in: DeKalb News, Education
The DeKalb County School System released on Aug. 19 the preliminary draft of Dr. Cheryl Atkinson’s employment contract. Atkinson, who has been named the final candidate for superintendent, is currently the superintendent of the Lorain City School System in Ohio. The DeKalb County School Board is planning to vote publicly to install Atkinson as superintendent on Aug. 29.
(2) The Board has the option to not hire the Superintendent if she fails a medical test. Failure is unclear. Add "In the opinion of the BOARD".
(3) The Superintendent is granted 10 days per year to seek outside compensation. Delete this, and state that the only fees she can receive during those ten days are reimbursements such as hotel and travel fees. Do not allow her to earn any money other than her full time job of being Superintendent.
(4) The Superintendent can pursue professional growth as needed. Does DeKalb want her hitting the books in, say, Orlando, or does it want this PhD to stay in Atlanta providing leadership? Limit the professional growth to a few days, say 10 days per year. Make the log of the 10 days of outside compensation and the 10 days of professional training to be a public record, available on the DeKalb website.
(5) Dr. Atkinson's base salary of $275,000/year is already a promotion of about $100,000 from her current salary. Does she really need more than $275,000? The contract pays her an additional $31,200 in a slush fund, plus any additional expenses she wants to submit, plus $9000 for a car. Change this so that the entire $31,200 must be audited, and if expenses for limousines are included, these transportation expenses get deducted from the $9000.
(6) The contract allows her to retire. Why is she allowed to retire within the first 3 years? Remove the option to retire, except medically.
(7) A bonus is not discussed, but since the salary is a "base" there must be a bonus somewhere. Make the $275,000 the entire salary, with no bonus allowed. If Dr Atkinson excels, as expected, raise her base salary in 3 years when her contract is renewed. Based on the last Superintendent, the Board may not be capable of determining appropriate metrics for an annual bonus, so don't try.