A recent report in Arkansas Business on the highest paid superintendents in the state has raised a few eyebrows, particularly former Cotter Superintendent Don Sharp who was ranked the sixth highest at $303,646. Sharp is now the superintendent of the Highland School District.
The rankings were based on the total compensation of salary and benefits paid to district superintendents for the academic year 2016-2017, the first year Sharp was at the helm at Highland.
Sharp says the report is “totally inaccurate.” He says the information is based on a year when Highland had a contract settlement with his predecessor, as well as paying Sharp.
He noted while the report had a disclaimer for further explanation on the Pine Bluff School District, it did not for Highland and other districts.
Sharp says his current salary is $115,000, not including benefits. With benefits, his compensation packet is closer to $135,000 currently, but was less in the reporting period of 2016-2017.
Based on the inaccuracy of Sharp’s compensation, KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot news contacted other area school superintendents.
At Mountain Home, Dr. Jake Long’s compensation was listed at $166,315. Dr. Long says the correct figure for 2016-2017 was $130,704.
At Cotter, Superintendent Vanessa Thomas-Jones’ first year with the district was 2017-2018, when her salary was $82,500. Her predecessor’s salary was reported the previous year at $106,976.
At Flippin, Superintendent Kelvin Hudson says the $105,717 reported for him is almost laughable. He says his compensation for the reported time period was $82,000. He added unless changes are made to the salary structure at Flippin, he would never reach the level of reported compensation.
At Yellville-Summit, Superintendent Wes Henderson says he makes $88,500, while the report had him at $111,140.
Norfork Superintendent Mike Seay did not provide his compensation for 2016-017, reported by Arkansas Business at $112,290.
The Arkansas Business report notes the source of its information is the Arkansas Department of Education.
A December 2017 report from the Arkansas School Superintendents Association notes the average salary for the state’s school district leaders for 2016-2017 was $113,712, among the 223 school districts participating in the agency’s annual survey.
At the same time, the national average was $139,470.
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