Baiting with big bucks

By Rhonda Simmons

Published: November 19, 2008

In an effort to attract promising candidates during a nationwide search, the Culpeper County School Board agreed Monday to set the next superintendent’s base salary between $145,000 and $155,000.

Such a figure would easily make the position the highest-paid among all employees of the town and county. And during a year in which faculty and staff received no raises, it would also represent a 16 to 24 percent raise from the base salary of previous superintendent David Cox.

The board voted 4-3 in favor of allowing McPherson & Jacobson — an Omaha-based search firm — to begin advertising the annual income immediately.

“We need to be competitive to attract the best candidate we can find,” School Board Chairman George Dasher said. “In looking at superintendent salaries in counties around us (Orange and Fauquier), this is the range we need to be in.”

Anne Luckinbill, Jimmy Lee and Vice Chairman Bob Beard voted with Dasher in favor of the salary range. Elizabeth Hutchins, Leanne Jenkins and Rusty Jenkins voted no.

The superintendent search comes as a result of the board voting in June to mutually part ways with Cox, who is on a one-year paid sabbatical that ends June 30. Pending his job search, however, Cox could be paid until his contract expires in 2011. In addition, he still receives insurance benefits, a leased car, a fuel allowance and $15,000 toward his retirement annuity.

Explaining their no votes, Hutchins and Leanne Jenkins pointed to the school division’s $72.1 million operating budget for fiscal year 2009 — adopted in May — that excluded raises for faculty and staff.

“I cannot justify the increase in salary for the position when the economy is looking worse every day and all of our employees took home less this year,” Hutchins explained. “If we cannot afford to be competitive in salaries for our faculty and staff, I do not see how we can do it at this level either. I do not know where, in our budget, this money will come from.”

Leanne Jenkins echoed Hutchins’ sentiments.

“I think it is too much money at a time when we can’t afford it,” Jenkins said. “At this point, it seems absurd to me to be increasing the superintendent’s salary.”

Culpeper’s top salaries
The next superintendent of schools will be the highest-paid employee in the town or county, earning at least $18,000 more than County Administrator Frank Bossio.

Bossio makes $127,000 annually for directing the regular operations of all county departments and agencies. He is a full-time official appointed by the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors and is responsible for recording the board’s legal business and supplying records for publication regarding its activities.

Bossio has worked for the county the past 10 years, the last eight as administrator.

The superintendent manages 10 schools with the help of his administration team. He or she is involved in curriculum development and overseeing the schools’ operating budget, which is the county’s largest at $72.1 million. The school division has nearly 1,000 employees.

Shortly after placing Cox on paid sabbatical, the board agreed to appoint Larry Carter as acting superintendent
Carter, former executive director of administrative services for CCPS, began his new duties July 1. His contract ends in June.

Carter’s base salary is $140,000 plus a monthly $500 car allowance, according to his contract.

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or .

Highest-paid town and county officials

Schools superintendent: Vacant $145,000 to $155,000
County administrator: Frank Bossio $127,000
Commonwealth’s attorney: Gary Close $126,397
Town manager: Jeff Muzzy $125,000
Director of Human Services, Calvin Coleman $115,819
County attorney: Roy Thorpe $114,000
Clerk of the court: Janice Corbin $108,654
Commissioner of the revenue: Terry Yowell $99,964
Sheriff: Jim Branch $97,237
Director of Social Services: Lisa Peacock $96,790
County treasurer: Dave DeJarnette $96,485
Police chief: Scott Barlow $86,278

Superintendents’ salaries in nearby localities:

Culpeper: Vacant $145,000 to $155,000
Fauquier: Jonathan Lewis $150,000
Orange: Vacant $137,841
Rappahannock: Robert Chappell $105,000
Madison: Brenda Tanner $101,735

Note: The above numbers do not include benefits.