Board ratifies superintendent compensation provisions; vote 6‑1

The Douglas County School District Board of Trustees voted 6‑1 on Aug. 21 to ratify the compensation provisions of Superintendent Frankie Alvarado’s contract, clarifying that the agreement provides a 3% step increase in the first year and a 5% step in the second year and aligns superintendent pay practices with other administrative employees.

Legal counsel Ryan Russell explained the contract language and how the step increases and PERS coverage align with district administrative compensation practices. Trustee David Burns moved to ratify the compensation provisions; Trustee Katherine Dickerson seconded. During discussion Trustee Burns said he believed the superintendent had earned the increase but asked for the board’s option to revisit additional raises in December. Trustee Erinn Miller cast the lone Nay vote. Public commenters including Adrienne Sawyer and Marty Swisher expressed support for the superintendent's raise, while also asking clarifying questions about timing and retroactivity.

Superintendent Alvarado told the board he was not requesting additional compensation beyond the contractual step increase and noted administrators received their step increases and PERS coverage earlier in July. Legal counsel confirmed the contractual anniversary tied to raises is in July and any change above the contract would require mutual agreement.

The board’s action formalizes how the superintendent’s step increases will be implemented going forward. No additional compensation beyond those provisions was approved at the meeting.