School chiefs' pay surges

Nearly a quarter of school districts northwest of Boston are paying superintendents at least 20 percent more in salaries and benefits than three years ago.

The increases are far higher than the average increase of 12.5 percent in the region, according to a Globe review of contracts for this year and the 2003-04 school year. The average salary and benefits package for superintendents in the 40 Massachusetts districts is $151,300, up from $134,400 three years ago.

Taxpayers are shelling out more for superintendents as school districts are struggling to recover from severe cuts in state aid earlier this decade, which prompted school committees to raise fees for busing, extracurricular activities, and athletics while cutting some teaching positions.

School committees defend the pay raises, saying a tight market for school superintendents is forcing them to offer larger compensation packages to attract top leaders or to prevent an effective superintendent from leaving. About half the districts with the largest increases have had new superintendents in the past three years, while the others have had the same leader for six years or longer.

Districts experiencing the sharpest increase include Andover, Billerica, Greater Lowell Tech, Harvard, Lawrence, Lexington, Lowell, Nashoba Valley Tech, and North Reading.

"Good people cost good money," said Thomas R. Diaz, chairman of the Lexington School Committee, which hired a new superintendent two years ago. "We were looking for one of the best superintendents and we got one."

Lexington's superintendent, Paul B. Ash , is making $194,250 in salary and benefits, 24 percent more than the previous superintendent did three years ago.

"I think it's excessive, but that's my personal opinion," said Jed Snyder, a Lexington resident who le d a successful campaign in town last year that prevented the school system from raising an additional $3.2 million in property taxes.

Ash is not the region's most highly compensated superintendent. That distinction belongs to Wilfredo T. Laboy, who is in his seventh year as Lawrence schools superintendent. He makes $209,366 in salary and benefits, a 21 percent increase from three years ago. His perks include free use of a Chevrolet Blazer and $12,000 for retirement investments. Laboy is the first superintendent in the region to break the $200,000 mark.

The highest-paid superintendent in eastern Massachusetts is Boston schools Superintendent Michael Contompasis, who earns $283,500 in salary and perks. The average is $147,500 on a base salary of $139,500.

The academically competitive environment in this region, local officials say, has essentially created a bidding war for top superintendents, forcing districts in historically blue-collar communities to play catch-up in pay. School districts often look to pay levels in neighboring districts or those of comparable size or stature when negotiating contracts, with districts like Lexington, Belmont, Winchester, and Concord leading the way.

"It's frustrating," said Maureen Collins-Rea, School Committee chairwoman in Billerica, historically a blue-collar community. "It just ratchets up the whole region."

Billerica has experienced the steepest increase in compensation for a school superintendent over the past three years. Anthony Serio, who started this year as the district's new superintendent, is making $160,500 in salary and benefits, 25 percent more than his predecessor did three years ago.

While a quarter of northwest districts have increased compensation levels by 20 percent or more, only 17 percent of districts in eastern Massachusetts have raised superintendent compensation packages by that rate over the past three years, according to a Globe analysis of contracts for 162 superintendents, including those northwest of Boston.

A few districts are bucking the trend of increases. Groton-Dunstable is paying 4 percent less for a superintendent this year than three years ago. Alan Genovese is in his second year, replacing Mary Athey Jennings. He makes $136,800 -- far below the average rate -- even though he has served as superintendent of four other school districts, in western Massachusetts.

Genovese agreed to no pay increase for three years and didn't take money for retirement investments when he negotiated his contract, understanding that the district was facing tough financial times. The School Committee is grateful for his understanding, but expects it may have to return the favor when a new contract is negotiated.

"We realize to keep a good superintendent we might have to play catch-up down the road," said Chuck McKinney, School Committee chairman.

Some superintendents, who have long been content in their jobs, can't help but look at greener pastures. David J. Hawkins, superintendent of Tyngsborough schools for 19 years, makes $138,510 and has seen his district slide backwards in the past few years because of state budget cuts and failed property tax overrides.

At 57 years old, Hawkins isn't too old to jump to another district where he could earn tens of thousands of dollars more. That could add considerably to his pension.

Pension payments are based on the average of the three highest consecutive years of pay.

But Hawkins said that he has a lot of loyalty and affection for Tyngsborough and that it would be difficult to leave.

"Am I going to stay or try my fortune somewhere else?" he asked.

"It's been very difficult the last few years. Prior to budget cuts, it was a school system on the move."

Russell Contreras of the Globe staff contributed to this report.