Gov. May Veto Pay Hikes For Superintendents
On Gov. Linda Lingle‘s list of by July 6 is the superintendent’s salary cap — and the maximum salary levels of the deputy superintendent, the assistant superintendents and complex area superintendents. But most important is the superintendent’s salary, which could influence the candidates the Hawaii State Board of Education is able to attract for the position vacated earlier this year by former superintendent Patricia Hamamoto.
The superintendent’s salary is capped at $150,000. (Visit our education accountability topic page to learn more about current salaries and the proposed bill).
Lingle’s news release explained the reason for a potential veto: The bill “allows hefty salary increases, including bonuses, for certain education staff including the Superintendent and Complex Area Superintendents, that could provide up to a maximum compensation of $250,000 per year without statutorily specific performance obligations.”
“Our concern is that we’re trying to bring the superintendent’s pay up to par with other school districts of similar size,” said board spokesman Alex Da Silva. “We’re hoping she will not veto that one, because it could affect our recruiting as we continue the search for a new superintendent. We want to make sure we’re attracting the kind of candidates we want here.”
Chairman Garett Toguchi said last month that the board hopes to hire a new superintendent before the end of the summer.
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