LH Press Library
Nelson Deal is 5 Years
Dallas Morning News, by Kristine Hughes
May 22, 2004
Former state education commissioner Jim Nelson has signed a five-year contract to lead the Richardson schools -- a deal that makes him the fourth-highest-paid superintendent in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
"We had an incredible opportunity to hire someone who is right for the times that we are in," said school board President Anne Foster. "I think he will be able to take the district to the next level."
The contract, which was executed Tuesday and made public Thursday, states that Mr. Nelson will start work June 14 and receive an annual base salary of $225,000 with no bonuses. Additionally, Mr. Nelson will receive a monthly telephone stipend of up to $135 and a monthly automobile allowance of $900 until he moves to Richardson. After that, the automobile allowance will be $800.
Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Fort Worth and Dallas superintendents are the only ones in this area with higher base salaries.
Richardson's student population, 35,000, is about a fifth of Dallas' total, 163,000, and less than half of Fort Worth's, 81,000. Carrollton-Farmers Branch is smaller than all three, with about 25,000 students.
Richardson's retiring superintendent, Carolyn Bukhair, earned $191,055 this year and was awarded a performance bonus of $19,000 Monday.
Mrs. Foster said that if Dr. Bukhair had stayed in the job, she probably would have received a comparable increase to keep the superintendent's salary in line with districts of similar makeup. She said Richardson ISD's superintendent pay had fallen behind other district salaries.
"The superintendent's salary hasn't been upgraded a lot in the last few years because [Dr. Bukahir] got the same percentage raise as the staff," which was about 2 percent, Mrs. Foster said. "Over a period time, you have to weigh what your salaries are and make sure your district is in the ballpark."
At last year's salary rate, Dr. Bukhair was the 29th-highest-paid superintendent on a list of 993 districts that had reported their salaries to the Texas State Teachers Association. Mr. Nelson would be 14th on the list.
"The salary we are paying him is not the highest, nor is it the lowest of some comparable districts," Mrs. Foster said. "We believe that the salary is appropriate for a district of our size, demographics and challenges.
"Being superintendent is a daunting job -- particularly for an urban suburban district such as ours. There's a lot of scrutiny, a lot of accountability -- to the state, the community, the taxpayers -- so we just believe the salary has to keep pace with the job that we're asking the superintendent to do."
Mr. Nelson's contract also states that he wanted to waive participation in the Texas Teacher Retirement System and that RISD would instead contribute comparable funds to an annuity or other investment instrument of his choice.
However, the latest word from Austin is that there is no opt-out available in the Teacher Retirement System as there is with the State Employee Retirement System. Therefore, Mr. Nelson and the district will both contribute appropriate amounts to the teacher system and comply with all of its requirements, Mr. Nelson said.
Other provisions of Mr. Nelson's contract include:
- Reimbursement for moving expenses. (Mr. Nelson lives near Argyle and has been house hunting in Richardson.)
- Reimbursement of membership and participation fees for professional meetings and organizations.
- Reimbursement of business travel mileage.
- District-paid group health and hospitalization, dental coverage and life insurance.
The contract won't be effective until Mr. Nelson gets another waiver from Texas Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley that would allow him to serve as superintendent without the requisite experience and certification.
RISD officials said they are still waiting for word from the commissioner's office.
"It's just a matter of the paperwork," Mrs. Foster said.
Mr. Nelson said he's eager to get started. "As I've had the opportunity to visit with more and more people in the district, I have become even more convinced that it's the right thing to do," he said.
Reprinted with permission of The Dallas Morning News.
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