School Superintendent Getting 275K Salary
The contract between DeKalb Schools and Michael Thurmond has been released.
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Details of the agreement to hire Michael Thurmond as Interim Superintendent of the DeKalb County School District have been made public.
Thurmond is the temporary replacement for Cheryl Atkinson, who resigned on Feb. 8 after a contentious 16-month tenure.
The deal calls for Thurmond to receive an annual salary of $275,000 plus $2,600 a month in "routine" expenses. He will have "full-time use of an automobile furnished by the Board," according to the document. If he prefers to use his own car, a monthly travel allowance of $750 will be provided.
Additionally, the contract states the Interim Superintendent "is authorized to incur reasonable expenses in the discharge of his duties," and will receive full health benefits and life insurance. He can also undertake outside activities such as "consultative work, speaking engagements, writings, lectures or other professional duties."
"I think that the salary is very high for the job, especially when teachers have not had a raise in years, and the system is broke," said Tucker Patch reader Rosalee Vance in a Facebook post.
"He has absolutely no educational background or training," said Ken Sheppard about the former Labor Commissioner, and Charles Marvil wondered, "why did the BOE agree to give Michael Thurmond $160,000 MORE than the previous Superintendent?"
Lisa Stone asked, "is he actually going to try to right the ship or is he just a placeholder until we get a new permanent super? If just basically a placeholder, shouldn't he be paid a lot less? Also, don't these 'supers' know how to drive?!"
What do YOU think about Thurmond's contract?
Richard Kelley
8:29 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
This is SO Disgusting!!! I thought Michael might be one to do something out of a need.....not to line his wallet!!!!! DeKalb is not about to go down the slippery slope...it's already started with this additional news....
Guy Midvale
8:37 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
@Charles Marvil,
Dr. Atkinson was earning $275K with the monthly expenses and Ford Explorer. The BOE gave Mr. Thurmond the same package.
The fact he is allowed to consult, write, and speak outside of the district bothers me. For that much money he shouldn't need to earn outside income unless he has outstanding contracts to fulfill.
Also, given the mess the district is in I expect him to work 14 to 16 hours-a-day, 6 days-a-week. Anything less for that much money would be a shame.
Betsy Parks
10:27 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Disgusting is right and his first goal is not to help the children but the DKBOE. http://www.wsbtv.com/videos/news/interim-superintendent-will-try-to-avoid-state/vqP9s/
Show your support to remove the DKBOE http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-nathan-deal-and-georgia-state-board-of-education-review-sacs-findings-if-accurate-replace-the-dekalb-county-school-board
anna kershaw
4:01 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
100 K should be enough..the teachers should get the rest.
Ty Griffin
9:06 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The entire BOE needs to be removed and replaced with intellegent civic minded volunteers that wants DeKalb County to provide the best quality education for all our children. If Michael Thurmond can accomplish this he is worth this salary. However, I believe this is just another example of the corrupt education system taking tax dollars and wasting them on everything but educating our children.
Jerome Masters
10:43 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Well folks all you that thinks this is a sham will get labeled with the R word. About all we can do is stick our head further in the sand and drink some more Kool Aid