Size of enrollment is not as strong a correlate with superintendent pay as it was earlier in the decade. The vast majority of contracts required a written evaluation of the superintendent. Linking financial rewards with achievement of objectives stated in evaluations continues to grow in popularity. Annuity payments, deferred compensation plans and guaranteed vesting in retirement plans are becoming more prevalent in superintendents compensation. More superintendents are participating in district-purchased term life insurance policies with face values of 1.5 to three times their annual base salaries.
Many superintendents have no severance clause in their contracts.
Findings are based on responses from 54 superintendents who were members of the Urban Superintendents Association of America in 1998. They reported an average tenure in their districts of six years. The complete report is available to USAA members only.