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Board approves superintendents new employment agreement amid heated public opposition
Summary
The Palo Alto Unified School District board approved a consolidated employment agreement for Superintendent Dr. Austin by a 4-1 vote after extended public comment criticizing increased compensation, a housing benefit and removal of a specific termination clause; the board cited legal review and operational continuity.
The Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education approved a consolidated employment agreement for Superintendent Dr. Austin after an extended public-comment period that featured sharp objections from parents and community members.
Supporters said the superintendents leadership helped stabilize district operations through recent crises; opponents criticized the contracts compensation and benefits and asked the board to decline the renewal. After deliberation the board voted 4-1 to approve the agreement.
Why it mattered: dozens of speakers urged the board to reject or modify the proposed deal, saying it included a sizable salary increase, continued housing subsidy and a tax-free annuity that the speakers said were out of step with teacher pay and problematic given unresolved community concerns.…
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