Arizona School Superintendent Compensation Under Scrutiny
The compensation of school district superintendents in Arizona has come under the spotlight following a recent report by the Goldwater Institute. The report scrutinizes the salaries and perks provided to superintendents across 41 of the state’s largest school districts.
According to the findings, taxpayers are responsible for funding substantial perks, such as car allowances that can reach up to $1,250 monthly, in addition to six-figure base salaries. During a press conference earlier this month, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne expressed concerns, stating that while the majority of superintendents justify their earnings, there are instances of excessive compensation.
“Districts that put most of their money in the classroom rather than in administration do better academically than those that have an excessive amount of money in administration, rather than in the classroom,” Horne emphasized.
Horne further highlighted the urgent need for increased teacher salaries, noting that the average base salary for superintendents stands at approximately $215,000 annually, as reported by the Goldwater Institute.
“We’re a local-control state,” Horne explained. “So I have no influence over that. The people have influence over that. So people need to find out ‘What is their school board doing?’ And if they don’t approve of what they’re doing, they need to replace them. That’s where the power rests, with the voters and school board elections.”
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