Superintendents throughout San Antonio have had their contracts altered in latest months in varied methods, together with extra compensation, prolonged phrases, and different modifications shrouded in secrecy.
However discovering out what these modifications are isn’t a simple activity, and for those who take a look at publicly accessible copies of the contracts, it’s possible you’ll discover outdated variations — elevating issues about transparency as districts face mounting scrutiny in a politically charged atmosphere.
The Edgewood Unbiased Faculty District, for instance, which raised its chief’s wage and prolonged his time period in September, was criticized by conservative advocacy teams for giving a elevate amid shrinking district enrollment and subpar educational scores.
Earlier than trustees voted, a board member learn out loud that the compensation can be raised to $291,923.
The ultimate contract, nevertheless, which was obtained by means of an open information request, contains compensation of $335,193.56, a spot of $43,000 from what was shared publicly.
Lauren Blevins, a spokeswoman for the district, stated the wage quantity shared throughout a public assembly didn’t account for added compensation linked to efficiency metrics of objective achievements.
“Dr. Hernandez’s contract contains earnings accrued over his seven years with Edgewood ISD, that are tied to educational and monetary efficiency metrics or common pay will increase accredited by the Board of Trustees for all staff,” she stated.
Further compensation choices outlined within the contract are in depth, totaling nearly $30,000 for metrics reminiscent of improve in attendance and accountability scores given by the state.
The compensation additionally doesn’t account for a month-to-month $1,000 allowance for “affordable and essential bills.”
The quantity within the up to date contract places Eduardo Hernández because the second-most extremely compensated conventional Unbiased Faculty District chief in Bexar County, in response to numbers compiled by the Texas Training Company, and among the many 14 highest-paid within the state out of greater than 1,250 districts. Hernández was initially employed in 2018 by a state-appointed board of managers that was overseeing the district on the time.
Domestically, Hernández is second solely to Northside ISD’s John Craft, who makes $357,000.
For comparability, Northside ISD has an enrollment of 102,000 in contrast with Edgewood ISD’s 8,000, and within the final public accountability rankings given by the state within the 2021-22 college yr, Northside acquired a B whereas Edgewood ISD acquired a C.
Up till Thursday, almost a month after the elevate was accredited, the final contract replace on Edgewood’s web site was one accredited in September 2023. Questions in regards to the wage initially arose when Hernández introduced that he can be funding a scholarship for top-performing Edgewood college students along with his personal cash. The quantity of the scholarship has not but been shared.
The contract updates come a yr after the district closed two colleges as a part of an effort to beat a $7 million funds deficit.
Beneath Texas regulation, districts are required to put up a duplicate of the superintendent’s contract at the very least annually or embrace it in a public report on monetary accountability.
Tracy Ginsburg, the Govt Director of the Texas Affiliation of Faculty Board Officers, stated that whereas it isn’t explicitly required, it’s a normal finest apply to put up updates each time there are modifications.
Prior to now, Edgewood has posted these as effectively, together with two updates in 2020, two in 2021 and one in 2022 and 2023.
Don Richards, the Texas statewide advisory director and hotline legal professional for the Freedom of Info Basis of Texas, stated posting such updates is smart.
“As soon as they put up it up there, it could solely make logical sense, that they might then replace them,” he stated. “It wouldn’t make any sense to have an out-of-date contract posted for a superintendent.”
Edgewood ISD trustee Michael Valdez stated in a latest interview that he had been requested by constituents who have been additionally on the lookout for the up to date contract.
Different districts have additionally made contract modifications lately.
Three weeks after the Judson Unbiased Faculty District board of trustees accredited a contract extension and lift for Superintendent Milton “Rob” Fields, the outdated contract was nonetheless posted on-line.
When requested about why the net model was outdated, the district up to date the contract on its web site to the more moderen one.
Jaime Aquino’s contract
Different districts select to not put up the paperwork on-line in any respect.
The San Antonio Unbiased Faculty District, for instance, shares the copies solely annually as a part of its Monetary Integrity Score System (FIRST) presentation, in response to district spokeswoman Laura Brief.
At a public listening to presenting the outcomes of the FIRST report in October, nevertheless, neither the outdated or up to date contract have been shared.
When requested the place constituents might discover the report, Brief was not instantly in a position to present a hyperlink.
So when an modification was made to the contract on the identical October board assembly, it wasn’t instantly clear what the modifications have been. The quiet change got here amidst reporting by an area TV station over Jaime Aquino’s use of a private coach, a perk he has stated value the district no cash and is widespread for brand spanking new superintendents.
The October change was associated to the superintendent’s retirement advantages, in response to copies of the outdated and new contracts obtained by means of an open information request.
The modifications seem to maneuver the duty for sure retirement prices from the superintendent to the district, guaranteeing that SAISD will cowl any shortfall if the superintendent’s Tax-Sheltered Annuity (TSA) doesn’t generate sufficient funds to purchase the superintendent’s annual service credit score within the Texas Trainer Retirement System (TRS).
The shift seems to supply the superintendent with a extra predictable retirement profit, guaranteeing that the district will cowl all essential prices if the TSA falls brief.
In response to Brief, the change was supposed to make clear the unique intent of the clause.
“The unique language indicated that the district would contribute 15% of the superintendent’s wage for use to buy prior years of service,” Brief stated. “The brand new language specifies that the 15% plus curiosity will likely be used for the aim of buying prior years of service, and within the occasion of a spot, the district will cowl it.”
Service credit within the TRS straight have an effect on retirement advantages, so the change successfully removes monetary uncertainty for the superintendent’s retirement by guaranteeing he gained’t must cowl any shortfall personally.
