Public commenter criticizes superintendent pay increase approved earlier, calls for board accountability

During the March 18 public comment period, Steve McKenna, a retired teacher and taxpayer, criticized the superintendent’s recently approved contract and pay increase, asking the board to justify the compensation level.

What was said

Steve McKenna told the board that the superintendent’s base salary would increase from $235,000 to $266,610 under a contract beginning July 1, 2025. He said the contract provides fewer base workdays (218) than the state average (249) and that extra‑day compensation would increase the superintendent’s total pay to "over $360,000" next year. McKenna compared that amount to the governor’s salary and the state superintendent of public instruction and said the board has a fiduciary duty to the community to explain the compensation levels.

Why it matters: McKenna framed the increase as a local fiscal concern and a matter of public accountability, arguing the district’s financial condition should have weighed against a raise.

Board response and context

The item McKenna criticized — the superintendent’s new agreement — was discussed as a past board action; no change to the superintendent contract was on the March 18 meeting agenda and no additional board action occurred in response to the comment.

Clarifying details from the comment

- Figures cited by the commenter: base salary from $235,000 to $266,610 (increase of $31,610) and an asserted total compensation exceeding $360,000 when extra work‑day pay is included. The comment also referenced the governor’s salary ($218,744 starting 07/01/2025) and the state superintendent of public instruction ($171,765) for comparison.

Ending: The board did not take action on the superintendent contract at the March 18 meeting; the comment was noted in the public‑comment record.