Mary Ann Ranells will earn $162,000 to head the West Ada School District in 2016-17.
In terms of base salary, that’s more than the $143,475 Linda Clark would have received under her 2015-16 contract. But district officials say Clark’s contract also included more than $30,000 in paid benefits that Ranells will not receive.
Ranells also will receive the same daily rate as she receives now, under a $77,478 contract that expires June 30.
Ranells and trustees agreed on a 2016-17 contract extension Tuesday; Idaho Education News received a copy of the contract Wednesday — and more details about her contract and benefits Thursday morning.
Ranells will receive a $1,200 stipend for a cell phone, and a $144 stipend for short-term disability, bringing her total compensation package to $163,344.
By contrast, Clark would have received $177,067 in salary and paid benefits — including $15,595 in vacation pay and $10,062 paid into the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho.
Contract benefits were a contentious issue between Clark and trustees, before the longtime superintendent abruptly resigned on Oct. 23. Trustees criticized perks in Clark’s contract — although an Idaho Education News investigation of superintendents’ contracts found West Ada’s benefits were more or less in line with other large districts.
The two-page contract — and a superintendent’s job description, posted on the West Ada district’s website — outlines Ranells’ benefits package.
Ranells will receive health and life insurance, three weeks of paid vacation and five personal days. Other benefits could include membership dues to two professional organizations; a trip to a national conference “related to job responsibilities;” access to district-owned cars for work use; and access to district-owned technology “for effective performance of superintendent duties.”
While Ranells will head the state’s largest school district, she will not be the highest-paid superintendent in the state. Blaine County schools Superintendent GwenCarol Holmes will receive $173,880 per year under a three-year extension approved in January.
