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Hillsborough School Board finds out a new superintendent won't come cheap

 
Fired Hillsborough schools chief MaryEllen Elia has a severance package that will cost taxpayers more than $1 million. Hiring her replacement isn't likely to be cheap either.
Fired Hillsborough schools chief MaryEllen Elia has a severance package that will cost taxpayers more than $1 million. Hiring her replacement isn't likely to be cheap either.
Published Feb. 10, 2015

TAMPA — The Hillsborough County school district could hire a new superintendent to replace MaryEllen Elia by early summer.

But don't expect it to be cheap. A survey of superintendent salaries across the state showed school chiefs are paid as much as $289,000 — which is Elia's pay, not including benefits.

And superintendents do get benefits — typically a car, a travel allowance for professional conferences, reimbursement for moving expenses and various forms of insurance and pensions.

School Board members will crunch the numbers today at a 9 a.m. workshop that will be webcast live.

Elia, who has run the nation's eighth-largest school district since 2005, goes on vacation March 6, at which time her deputy, Jeff Eakins, will become acting superintendent. Her contract ends on June 30, based on a vote taken by the board last month.

Elia's severance package, including bonuses and unused sick time, will cost taxpayers more than $1 million. But supporters of the vote to fire her have said the next superintendent will not have terms as favorable as Elia's, which included a self-extending three-year contract no longer allowable by state law.

In preparation for the workshop, board member Melissa Snively asked district staff to draw up a fast-track schedule similar to the one under way in Palm Beach County's superintendent search.

That schedule calls for a series of workshops and a board meeting to select and direct a search firm. A short list of candidates would come before the board on May 19. There would be two rounds of interviews, then a selection on June 23.

Board member Cindy Stuart asked for information about searches and salaries in other Florida districts. A survey of Florida school districts showed superintendent salaries ranging from $230,000 to $289,000 with a variety of benefits packages.

Broward County, for example, provides its superintendent with a district car for business use. The Dade superintendent gets a new Ford Crown Victoria, or the equivalent, every two years.

Moving expenses are $8,000 in Duval County but $20,000 in Broward.

In Orange County, the superintendent gets a $5,000 bonus each year the district gets an A grade from the state and comparable bonuses for winning the Broad, Sterling and Baldridge educational prizes.

Contact Marlene Sokol at (813) 226-3356 or msokol@tampabay.com. Follow @marlenesokol.