The TUSD Governing Board erred when it attempted to retroactively increase Superintendent H.T. Sanchez' base salary by $30,000.
The contract, approved Tuesday, called for Sanchez' annual base salary of $210,000 to increase to $240,000 for the school year that just came to a close, followed by an increase to $260,000 for the upcoming school year, $270,000 for the 2016-2017 school year, and $280,000 for the 2017-2018 final year of the contract.
By law, the contract can only span three years starting with the upcoming school year, making the increase for 2014-2015 void.
The two-year extension, which will keep Sanchez through June 2018, was supported by Adelita Grijalva, Kristel Foster and Cam Juarez. Michael Hicks voted no and Mark Stegeman abstained.
In approving the contract, Foster noted the average tenure for superintendents in TUSD is two years, but keeping Sanchez for a total of five years would bring stability, which she said is key.
Though Stegeman abstained, he said he too is concerned about superintendent stability, saying it would be a “bad time” to commence a new search.
Stegeman added, however, that he had concerns about the speediness of the process and the compensation terms, which he was not allowed to discuss in the public meeting.
Grijalva, had no qualms about supporting the extension, saying Sanchez has taken the district in a positive direction and has provided advocacy to a degree she has not seen in her 13 years on the board.
“We’ve had more and more positive coverage for the district and positive feedback,” Grijalva said. “I’ve had meetings with people who historically have not had a lot of positive things to say that are just really happy.
“Is everything perfect? No, but every thing is a work in progress and I think we’re making really great strides in this district.”
As an incentive to Sanchez to serve the extended term of the contract, which he said he planned to do, in addition to the annual base salary and other compensation, TUSD will make a one-time payment of $25,000 upon completing the 2016-2017 school year and another one-time payment of the same amount at the completion of the following year.
That additional $50,000 was not previously written into Sanchez’s original contract.
What remains are other standard allowances and the ability to be eligible to receive up to six percent of his salary as performance-based compensation, which is expected to come before the board later this month.
Last year Sanchez was awarded the full $12,600 performance bonus for accomplishing goals he developed for himself.
This year Sanchez will be evaluated based on goals identified as part of the first year of the district’s five-year strategic plan, which Sanchez initiated in 2014 and was created with the input of community members, focusing on five areas: curriculum and instruction, diversity, facilities, finance and communication.
Earlier this month, the Governing Board received a year-end report proclaiming that 100 percent of the goals were met, which could translate to awarding Sanchez the full six percent bonus for the second year in a row.
Though the evaluation process has differed with each leader, Grijalva has said it is common for superintendents to set some of their own goals in consultation with the board.
Former Superintendent John Pedicone’s evaluation called for a specific percentage of students to meet or exceed standards on AIMS; reducing the number of D-rated schools by a certain percentage; and increasing overall enrollment as well as maintaining enrollment as students transition from elementary to middle school.
Sanchez’s bonus, however, is not directly tied to how students or schools perform, or enrollment.
Rather, efforts include improving communication; implementing culturally responsive curriculum; using data to drive instruction; implementing a standardized measurement system; designing an easy, accessible curriculum scope and sequence; providing purposeful professional development; enhancing diversity in staff, curriculum, and advanced learning experiences; and maximizing resources among other initiatives.
In addition to extending Sanchez’s contract, the Governing Board approved contracts for members of his cabinet for the upcoming school year whose salaries total more than $1.1 million.
Retaining their positions are: Eugene Butler, assistant superintendent of student services; Stuart Duncan, chief operations officer; Ana Gallegos, assistant superintendent of elementary/K-8; Anna Maiden, chief human resources officer; Abel Morado, assistant superintendent of secondary schools; Scott Morrison, chief technology officer; Karla Soto, chief financial officer; Julie Tolleson, legal counsel; and Adrian Vega, deputy superintendent.
Taking over in the interim for Steve Holmes, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, is Richard Foster. Holmes left TUSD to lead the neighboring Sunnyside Unified School District.
In other business, the TUSD board agreed to pay more than $478,000 in attorney fees for the plaintiffs in its desegregation case.
It also approved the sale of Van Horne Elementary School for $1.4 million to Pepper Viner Investment Company II, LLC, which would demolish the property to develop a residential subdivision.
The Governing Board meeting was still in session late Tuesday with plans to discuss and possibly take action on a number of issues including leasing substitute teachers and the district’s comprehensive magnet plan.
