GENESEE COUNTY, Mich. - School administrators in Genesee County earn an average of $90,800 annually, according to a study by The Flint Journal, not including longevity pay, stipends or bonuses. A quarter of administrators make six-figure salaries, The Journal reported.
The Journal reviewed salary information for a wide range of administrators, from elementary principals to superintendents, concluding that they receive a combined $34 million annually.
Some administrators have taken pay freezes recently, The Journal reported, though other school managers have receive 2 to 3 percent pay hikes. Other districts have reduced administrative ranks by consolidating such services as special education and transportation. The study did not include cases in which administrative positions have been privatized.
Grand Blanc Public Schools had the highest average administrator salary in the county - $102,000 - among schools that do not outsource any position, The Journal reported. Superintendent Michael Newton told The Journal that the district has been gaining enrollment and consistently performs well on state tests.
"I think our community members are getting a bang for their buck," he said.
Flint Superintendent Linda Thompson told The Journal that the number of administrators there will decrease as schools close and the budget shrinks.
SOURCE:
The Flint Journal, "Many Genesee County school leaders earn six-figure salaries as districts struggle with budgets, enrollment drops," Dec. 14, 2008
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Six Habits of Fiscally Responsible Public School Districts," Dec. 3, 2002
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