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Schools

The New Math: Adding up a Superintendent's Salary

Patch explains all the elements that go into a school superintendent's compensation.

Education funding remains one of the singularly most debated public policy issues of the day, with salary and benefits headlining the discussion. Patch surveyed 12 local school districts to shed some light on just how much our superintendents are being paid.  

All salary, other compensation, budget and school information have been collected from actual budgets, compensation reports and other official financial documents made available under Illinois law by every school district.  

Wheaton Community Unit School District 200

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Led by Superintendent Dr. Brian Harris, Community Unit School District 200 serves 13,246 students, grades pre-K through 12, from the communities of Wheaton, Warrenville and portions of Carol Stream, Winfield and West Chicago. CUSD 200 has 20 schools, including one pre-school facility. Dr. Harris’ salary includes $195,000 in base pay, $20,232 in pension contributions and $18,962 in health care payments for a total annual salary $234,194, according to the district’s Web site. For fiscal year 2010-2011, District 200’s budget topped out at $161 million and the superintendent’s salary cost each student $17. Click here to see how the districts academic performance measures up against state averages.

Glen Ellyn Community Consolidated School District 89

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Superintendent Dr. John Perdue, hired in 2005, is paid a total annual salary of $264,919 by Glen Ellyn Community Consolidated School District 89. His salary includes $201,772 in base pay, $7,874 in paid vacation days, $4,182 for a yearly car allowance, $540 for a cell phone, $29,361 in pension contributions, $18,190 in paid annuity and approximately $3,000 in other miscellaneous costs. District 89 serves 2100 students, grades pre-K through eight, at four schools. For the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the districts total budget was $27,010,564 and the superintendent's salary breaks down to $123 per enrolled student. Students in the district hail from the southern portions of Glen Ellyn, Wheaton and Lombard. To see how the district’s academic performance stacks up against state averages click here.

St. Charles Community Unit School District 303

Dr. Donald Schlomann, named superintendent of St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 in 2009, is responsible for directing the education of nearly 14,000 students at 17 schools. According to salary compensation reports obtained by Patch, his 2010-2011 total compensation is approximately $250,000. This includes a base salary of $225,000 and $25,000 in other compensation that includes health care benefits, pension contributions, an annual car allowance, contributions by the district to a tax-free annuity and other fringe benefits, according to his contract. His salary costs each student in the district $18 a year. District 303 draws students from St. Charles and portions of West Chicago, South Elgin, Wayne, Campton Hills, Wasco, Elburn and unincorporated Kane County. Click here to see how District 303’s performance stacks up against state averages. The fiscal year 2010-2011 budget for the district as a whole tops out just over $171 million.

Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205

Dr. Lynn S. Krizic’s tenure as superintendent of Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 hasn’t been without controversy. Named to the post by the School Board in 2006, Krizic will not be returning next school year. Responsible for delivering an education to nearly 8,000 students, grades pre-K through 12, at 13 schools, Krizic earns a total salary of $229,544, according to district documents. This includes a base salary of $185,000, $20,457 in annual pension contributions, $18,087 in health care costs and $6,000 in other compensation provided by the district. When broken down by student, her annual total salary costs each of them $28 a year. Most District 205 students live in Elmhurst, but others live in parts of Oak Brook, Bensenville and Addison. The district's budget for 2010-2011 fiscal year is a little more than $104 million. You can click here to see how District 205 test scores and performance measure against state averages.

Downers Grove Community High School District 99

Named superintendent of Downers Grove Community High School District 99 in 2008, Dr. Mark McDonald serves 5,300 students at two high schools. McDonald earns a total annual salary of $212,290, according to the district’s annual compensation report. His salary includes $178,500 in base pay, $18,520 in pension payments and $15,270 in health care contributions. McDonald’s total salary costs each student in District 99 $40 a year. The district covers the communities of Downers Grove, Bolingbrook, Darien, Lisle, Oak Brook, Westmont, Woodridge and unincorporated portions of DuPage County. For fiscal year 2010-2011 the district's total budget fell just under $74 million. Click here to see how District 99’s performance and test scores measure up to state averages.    

Hinsdale Township High School District 86

Hinsdale Township High School District 86 has been led by Superintendent Dr. Nicholas Wahl since 2008. District 86 serves more than 4,500 students at two high schools. According to this year’s salary compensation report, Wahl is earning a total salary of $283,528. This includes a base pay of $236,221, $25,131 in pension contributions, $16,176 in health care costs and $6,000 in other compensation provided by the district. The per-student cost of the superintendent’s salary is $62. District 86’s totally budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year is $82.4 million. As superintendent, Wahl serves students from Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Willowbrook and parts of Westmont.  Click here to see how District 86 performance and test scores stack up against state averages.

Burr Ridge Community Consolidated School District 180

Dr. Thomas Schneider was named superintendent of Burr Ridge Community Consolidated School District 180 in 2007. For the 2010-2011 school year, according to District 180’s salary compensation report, he is earning a total salary of $178,626. His salary included $145,782 in base pay, $14,823 in pension payments and $18,021 in health care contributions. District 180 serves 720 students from Burr Ridge and parts of Southeast DuPage County, grades pre-K through eighth, at two schools. The superintendent’s salary costs each student in the district $247 each, annually. You can click here to see how District 180 performance and test scores stack up against state averages. This year’s total budget for the district is a little more than $10 million.

Gower School District 62

Gower School District 62 serves 940 students, grades pre-K through eighth at two schools, from portions of Burr Ridge, Willowbrook and unincorporated Hinsdale.  Appointed by the board as superintendent in 2005, Steve Greisbach earns a total annual salary of $222,470. This includes $189,193 in base pay, $22,277 in pension contributions and an annual annuity payment of $11,000. There were no health care contributions listed in the district’s salary compensation report. Greisbach’s salary and benefit package costs each student $236 a year. Click here for District 62 state test scores. For fiscal year 2010-2011, the district’s budget is $12.8 million.

Pleasantdale School District 107

Superintendent Mark Fredisdorf has headed Pleasantdale School District 107 for the past eight years. District 107 covers portions of Burr Ridge, Countryside, Indian Head Park, Willow Springs and unincorporated Cook County. The district's nearly 800 students attend grades pre-K through eighth. For the 2010-2011 school year, Fredisdorf’s total annual salary is $224,077, including $185,500 in base pay, $19,246 in pension contributions and $19,331 in health care payments according to the district’s annual compensation report. His totally salary cost per student is $280 a year. You can click here to review District 107 performance and test scores and see how they stack up against state averages. For fiscal year 2010-2011, District 107’s total budget is just over $12 million.

Western Springs District 101

With an a 2010-2011 budget of nearly $16 million, Western Springs District 101 serves more than 1,400 students in grades pre-K through eighth primarily from the village of Western Springs. Named superintendent in 2002, Dr. Brian Barnhart is earning $259,374 this school year. His salary includes $210,000 in base pay, $22,441 in pension contributions, $21,333 in health care payments and $5,600 in other compensation, according to District 101’s annual compensation report. His salary cost per student is $181 annually. Click here to see how District 101 performance and test scores measure up against state averages.

La Grange Highlands School District 106

Dr. Robert Dyer has served as the La Grange Highlands School District 106 superintendent for only one year. For the current school year, Dr. Dyer’s total salary is $193,997. His compensation includes $170,000 in base pay, $17,638 in pension contributions and $6,359 in health care payments, according to the district’s administrators’ compensation report. The cost per student for the superintendent’s salary is $217 a year. You can click here to see how District 106 performance and test scores measure up against state averages. Drawing students from the La Grange community, District 106’s fiscal year 2010-2011 budget fell just under $13 million. Currently, District 106 serves 893 students, grades pre-K through eighth, at two schools.

Center Cass School District 66

Superintendent Dr. Jay Tiede, serving the Center Cass School District 66 in 2000, is one of the longest serving top administrators surveyed by Patch. According to the district's 2010-2011 compensation report, Dr. Tiede is earning a total salary of $209,855. His compensation includes a base pay of $170,800, $18,489 in pension contributions, $17,566 in health contributions and $3,000 in other compensation. The cost per student of the superintendent’s salary is $173 annually. District 66 serves 1,200 students at three schools, grades pre-K through eighth, from parts of Darien, Downers Grove, Woodridge and unincorporated Downers Grove Township. Its 2010-2011 budget is $14.3 million. You can click here to see how District 66 performance and test scores measure up to state averages. 

Downers Grove School District 58

Paul C. Zannder, appointed superintendent of Downers Grove School District 58 in 2008, draws an annual total salary of $237,551. His compensation includes $190,523 in base salary, $19,767 in pension contributions, $19,986 for health care payments, another $1,366 for dental coverage and $6,000 on other compensation, according to the district’s annual administrator compensation report. The superintendent’s salary costs each student in the district $48 a year. District 58 serves nearly 5,000 students, grades pre-K through eight at 13 schools. Enrolled students hail from Downers Grove and portions of Darien, Oak Brook, Westmont and Woodridge. The district’s current fiscal year budget is $59.7 million. Click here to see how District 58 performance and test scores stack up against state averages.   

Hinsdale Community Consolidated School District 181

Hired in 2009, Superintendent Dr. Renée Schuster earns a total annual salary of $245,469 from Hinsdale Community Consolidated School District 181. Her salary includes $205,000 in base pay, $21,269 in pension contributions, $14,000 in health care payments and $5,200 in other compensation according to financial documents obtained from the district. District 181 serves nearly 4,000 students, grades pre-K through eighth, at nine schools. Dr. Schuster’s annual salary costs each student $61 a year. Drawing students from Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills and portions of Burr Ridge, Oak Brook and Willow Brook, District 181’s fiscal year 2010-2011 budget is $60.1 million. Click here to see how District 181 performance and test scores stack up against state averages.

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