Superintendent salary OK'd for another 3 years

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Board of Education approved an increase in the superintendents' salary, with one board member asking whether a different method should be used.

Board members discussed briefly the process used to determine superintendent salary increases Monday night at the regular meeting, before unanimously approving a 3.5 percent increase for McCook School Superintendent Grant Norgaard, along with a three-year contract. His base salary will be $153.849.60, with $18,107.38 for insurance, for a total of $171,956.98. Formerly his salary was a total of $161,866, with $143,700 as a base salary.

Board member Diane Lyons noted that the superintendent gives salary increases to administrators based on goals met and suggested that the board do the same when considering the superintendent's salary. Approving a contract in July after the superintendent's October evaluation seemed "backwards" to her, Lyons said, and may appear to the public as not justified.

"The evaluation was so long ago ... that we tend to forget," she said, adding that an evaluation at the end of the school year would be better timing. That way, increases in the superintendent's contract could be tied directly on performance, rather than on an array of other factors. One of these factors she mentioned were the comparisons of Class B superintendent salaries that were included in the board packet. She questioned what elements were used to determine those salaries, such as years of employment.

According to the salary table given to board members, Norgaard's current salary is one of the lowest in Class B but higher than North Platte's.

Board president Tom Bredvick said only salaries and benefits were available (superintendent contracts can be viewed online at the Nebraska Department of Education), but that education levels, such as master degrees, can affect superintendents' salaries. McCook School District business manager Rick Haney added that longevity does not typically come into play.

Bredvick said the superintendent evaluation starts in October as most superintendent job searches are filled by the end of January and if the board, or the superintendent, decide to not renew the contract, it would give both enough time to fill or find a position.

He added that the 3.5 increase was discussed by the ad hoc committee of himself, board vice president Teresa Thomas and board secretary, Loretta Hauxwell and was based on the last board evaluation of the superintendent, as well as a review of other comparable salaries.

Board member Brian Esch, president/CEO of McCook National Bank, commented that performance appraisals, done before a salary is set, gives the employee time to meet goals with the increased salary as a reward.

Prior to approving the superintendent's salary, the board unanimously approved a package increase of $31,647.97, that represents a 3 percent increase for each administrator's annual salary.

Superintendent Norgaard explained the amount as the maximum that can be used for increases, but that the entire amount will not be used as increases are based on evaluations with each administrator and whether specific goals were achieved or not.

Other schools

Class B Superintendent salaries with benefits,

as of June 2015

Class A