Find the Latest Resources in Education Today
School superintendent gives up $800K in pay
Fresno County, Calif., Superintendent Larry Powell is returning $288,241 in salary and benefits for the next three and a half years of his term, so the district can afford to continue several projects.
Until his term expires in 2015, Powell will run 325 schools and 35 school districts with 195,000 students, all for less than a starting California teacher earns.
“How much do we need to keep accumulating?” asks Powell, 63. “There’s no reason for me to keep stockpiling money.”
Powell’s generosity is more than just a gesture in a region with some of the nation’s highest rates of unemployment. As he prepares for retirement, he wants to ensure that his pet projects survive California budget cuts. And the man who started his career as a high school civics teacher, who has made anti-bullying his mission, hopes his act of generosity will help restore faith in the government he once taught students to respect.
“A part of me has chaffed at what they did in Bell,” Powell said, recalling the corrupt Southern California city officials who secretly boosted their salaries by hundreds of thousands of dollars. “It’s hard to believe that someone in the public trust would do that to the public. My wife and I asked ourselves ‘What can we do that might restore confidence in government?’”
Powell’s answer? Ask his board to allow him to return $288,241 in salary and benefits for the next three and a half years of his term. He technically retired, then agreed to be hired back to work for $31,000 a year—$10,000 less than a first-year teacher—and with no benefits.
2 Responses to School superintendent gives up $800K in pay
You must be logged in to post a comment Login
sp1116
August 29, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Impressive….glad to see someone in power taking a huge stand to make a positive difference.
sp1116
August 29, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Impressive….glad to see someone in power taking a huge stand to make a positive difference.
jlandr21
August 29, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Wow! What a remarkable gesture and human being. Sincere kudos to Dr. Powell! This nation could use a few more like him.
jlandr21
August 29, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Wow! What a remarkable gesture and human being. Sincere kudos to Dr. Powell! This nation could use a few more like him.