What? Is this some sort of joke? Unfortunately the joke is on us, the parents and tax payers of the Lake Travis ISD.
According to a March 2011 article, the “Texas School Business,” who refer to themselves as “The independent voice for public education in Texas,” overpaid superintendents such as Rocky Kirk deserve their outrageous salaries. Imagine that!
“THE PRICE OF LEADERSHIP Criticism of superintendent salaries falls short upon closer examination” published by the “Texas School Business,” quotes Rocky Kirk himself as saying:
“The scrutiny that you’re under, the criticisms that you sometimes get and the decisions that impact the families [of employees] are sometimes painful. There are people behind those numbers,” says Kirk, referring to budget cuts.
Although his contract calls for an annual pay raise, Kirk has declined raises for the past two years.
“Just given the economic times, it seemed inappropriate to ask the board to pass along an increase to me when other people were feeling the real negative effects of the downturn,” he says.
The article directly contradicts data provided by the his own school district to the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Even in 2009, the Austin American Statesman said Rocky Kirk took a pay raise.
According to the TEA, Rocky Kirk has enjoyed a 76% pay raise since his tenure began at the LTISD in 2002. Based on data from the TEA, we can track his pay and see the truth: Rocky Kirk’s salary has increased $24,587 (9.9%) over the last two years!
| Year |
Annual Salary |
Yearly Increase % |
Total Increase % |
| 2002-2003 |
$154,600 |
|
|
| 2003-2004 |
$154,894 |
0.2% |
0.2% |
| 2004-2005 |
$169,500 |
9.4% |
9.6% |
| 2005-2006 |
$178,000 |
5.0% |
15.1% |
| 2006-2007 |
$201,253 |
13.1% |
30.2% |
| 2007-2008 |
$228,015 |
13.3% |
47.5% |
| 2008-2009 |
$247,840 |
8.7% |
60.3% |
| 2009-2010 |
$252,799 |
2.0% |
63.5% |
| 2010-2011 |
$272,427 |
7.8% |
76.2% |
Rocky Kirk is quoted in the article saying:
“Adds Lake Travis ISD Superintendent Rocky Kirk, “If the superintendent’s job is done right, then it’s going to take it out of you physically and intellectually, and sometimes emotionally.”
Kirk says the job is hard work physically because of the time demands, while the intellectual aspects of the job require competency in multiple areas of business and the ability to visualize and design processes for the organization as a whole.
The emotional piece of the superintendent’s job, however, can hit the hardest, Kirk says.”
Doesn’t Rocky Kirk’s contract give him even more time off to handle his additional stress? Rocky Kirk’s 2007 contract specifically states:
(9) Additional Leave – Personal/Professional Balance. The Superintendent is expected to take time away from his normal work routine to maintain balance and focus in his personal and professional life. Accordingly, in addition to the leave set forth above, the Superintendent is expected to take, at the Superintendent’s choice, an additional fifteen (15) days of leave per year (“Additional Leave”). This Additional Leave may be used at the discretion of the Superintendent, in whole or part days, for any reason. Any unused Additional Leave will not carry over from year to year.
The superintendent continues to receive pay raises and benefits heaped upon him while those who directly teach our children every day face an uncertain financial future.
Rocky Kirk even says:
“Public schools have been asked to “fill in the blanks” in areas that were once relegated to families, Kirk says, adding that the work that teachers and administrators must shoulder results from absent structures in many students’ homes, he says.”
Who is really providing the emotional support and structure for the students day in and day out? It is our teachers, not Rocky Kirk. Where are the teachers additional paid vacation days to help them “maintain balance and focus in their personal life”? Where is the additional financial compensation for all the money our teachers spend out of their own pockets for supplies in the classroom?
Don’t we, as taxpayers, want the most experienced teachers teaching our kids? Why then does the teacher pay scale not continue to compensate experienced teachers?
In a time when we the taxpayers are still recovering from job lay offs and salary cutbacks, Kirk goes out and buys a new $500,000 house. IT doesn’t sound like Rocky Kirk is worried about his future employment or financial future. I wonder if the dedicated teachers and staff in our schools feel the same way?
The article goes on to say:
“Texas superintendent salaries run about $120,689 on average, according to the annual salaries and wages survey conducted by TASA and the Texas Association of School Boards. Superintendents in districts with more than 50,000 students earn about $276,545, while those in districts between 25,000 and 50,000 students make about $234,841.”
Wow, contrast that to Rocky Kirk’s average increase of 9.5% a year and his $272,427 annual salary. Any yet his only manages of district of only 6,978 students for $272,427! Not a very good deal for the LTISD parents and tax payers.
Let’s see now, the article mentions the Wylie ISD Superintendent H. John Fuller, saying:
“Wylie ISD Superintendent H. John Fuller is a rarity; he’s survived for more than three decades. He has enjoyed a career that has taken him from a 400-student district to now managing 12,000 students, more than 1,700 employees and a $100 million budget.”
According to the latest TEA Superintendent salary data, H. John Fuller’s management of 12,526 students, 1,700 employees and a $100 million budget costs the tax payers of the Wylie ISD $169,214 per year! Certainly a bargain compared to Rocky Kirk’s “management” of only 6,978 students, 846 employees and a $75 million budget, all for a mere $272,427 per year.
Look at the numbers that the LTISD reported to the TEA and determine the truth for yourselves.
It is time to put the money and pay increases where it count, in the hands of our hard working teachers, not the already over paid superintendent.
